A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

In Harlow's monkey studies, which “mother” did the infant monkeys prefer to spend time with?

1. The mother that provided food

2. The mother covered in terrycloth

3. The robotic mother

4. The mother that was warm and soft

The correct answer is: The mother covered in terrycloth

In Harlow's studies with rhesus monkeys, the infant monkeys displayed a clear preference for the mother that was covered in soft terrycloth, regardless of the fact that this surrogate mother did not provide food. This significant finding emphasized the importance of comfort, warmth, and emotional connection over mere physical nourishment. The infant monkeys gravitated towards the cloth-covered mother when they were frightened, seeking the security and comfort it represented. This reinforced the idea that attachment is influenced more by the emotional and tactile comfort provided by caregivers rather than solely by the provision of food, challenging previous assumptions based on behaviorist theories that prioritized reinforcement through feeding. Thus, the preference for the terrycloth mother highlights the critical role of emotional bonds in the development of attachment and social behavior.