Harlow's attachment research

Definition

Harlow's attachment research refers to a series of studies conducted by psychologist Harry Harlow in the 1950s and 1960s that examined the importance of contact comfort and social relationships in infant monkeys. He used surrogate mothers made of wire and cloth to investigate the impact on attachment behavior.

Related terms

Contact Comfort:

The term refers to the positive emotions experienced from physical touch or closeness with others.

Attachment Behavior: This term describes the actions or behaviors individuals, typically infants, engage in to seek proximity or maintain closeness with their primary caregivers.

Maternal Deprivation: It refers to the absence or loss of an attachment figure (usually a mother) during early childhood development and its potential negative effects on emotional and social well-being.