Harry Harlow's Monkey Experiment

Definition

A series of experiments conducted by psychologist Harry Harlow in the 1950s and 1960s on rhesus monkeys to demonstrate the importance of care-giving and companionship in social development and cognitive function.

Analogy

Imagine if as a baby, you were given a choice between a robot that feeds you but doesn't interact with you, or a soft, cuddly teddy bear that can't feed you but is comforting. You might find yourself drawn more towards the teddy bear because it provides comfort, similar to how the monkeys in Harlow's experiment preferred cloth mothers over wire mothers.

Related terms

Attachment Theory: A psychological model attempting to describe the dynamics of long-term interpersonal relationships between humans.

Social Development: The process by which individuals learn to interact with others and learn their social roles within their community.

Cognitive Function: Mental processes that allow us to carry out any task.