Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Harry Harlow was an American psychologist best known for his maternal-separation experiments on rhesus monkeys which demonstrated the importance of care-giving and companionship in social development and cognitive function.
Related terms
Maternal Deprivation: The absence or loss of a mother, which can lead to negative effects on development and behavior in children.
A term coined by Harlow referring to the physical and emotional comfort that an infant receives from being in physical contact with its mother or caregiver.
Critical Periods: Specific time frames during an organism's life during which it is sensitive to environmental influences or stimuli, and thus capable of undergoing developmental changes.