1. Is it ethically acceptable?
1958 Harlow:
Research on attachment

2. Brief Summary:
Harlow’s research on attachment aimed to study attachment, specifically how an infant monkey bonds with his/her mother.
He first separated infant monkeys from their mothers immediately after birth.
Then he used two different methods; he some monkeys in isolation and some with surrogate mothers (one mother is made of barbed wire and provides food; the other is wrapped with cloth and provides physical affection; both surrogate mothers are mechanical structures.)
After leaving the monkeys in those two conditions for some time, Harlow put the baby monkeys back with “normal” monkeys (monkeys raised by their own mothers under normal circumstances) and observed their behavior.

3. How did Harlow’s methods affect the baby monkeys?
He took baby monkeys and isolated them from birth, then put them back with other monkeys to see the effects
Resulted in bizarre behavior from baby monkeys
“clutching their own bodies and rocking compulsively” (Simply Psychology).
“tearing hair out, scratching, and biting their own arms and legs” (Simply Psychology).
Aggressive when put back together with other monkeys and unable to socialize
Infant monkeys raised with surrogate mothers
They clung to the surrogate mother with the cloth for most of the time and only
went to the barbed wire mother when they’re hungry.
When they grew up, they had difficulty mating
The females grew up to be inadequate mothers

4. Ethics of harlow’s studies
Arguments criticizing his studies
They are “unnecessarily cruel” (Simply Psychology).
permanently detrimental effects on the monkeys
Females grow up to be inadequate mothers
Some became so neurotic that they “smashed their [own] infant’s face into the floor and rubbed it back and forth” (Simply Psychology).
Monkeys reared in isolation are often in state of constant depression and fear
When put with “normal” monkeys, they often stay “huddled in a corner” (Simply Psychology).
They are social outcasts
Difficulties communicating and mating with other monkeys
They’re bullied by other monkeys but are also unable to stand up for themselves
“limited value in attempting to understand effects of deprivation on human infants” (Simply Psychology).
The results observed from monkeys might not be appropriate to be generalized to human infants
Committed cruel acts against the monkeys, yet the results can’t even contribute much to attachment theories for humans.

5. Ethics of harlow’s studies
Arguments supporting his studies
Contributes greatly to theories regarding the “development of attachment and social behaviors” (Simply Psychology).
At that time, it was a common belief that attachment was predominantly influenced by physical needs (i.e. food) as opposed to emotional needs.
Harlow’s studies debunked those beliefs
Results from the “surrogate mother” method demonstrated that on average, the infant monkeys spent more time with the cloth-covered mother than the barbed wire mother that provided food. It seemed that the cloth-covered mother reduced monkeys’ fear and was their “safe base” (Simply Psychology).
The benefits outweighed the sacrifices (the monkeys’ suffering)
Harlow’s work influenced the work of John Bowlby
John Bowly is the “most important psychologist in attachment theory” (Simply Psychology).
Convinced people of the importance of emotional support in places such as hospitals, children’s homes, and more.

6. citations
Effects of Isolation in Rhesus Monkeys. Word Press, ablument.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/harlow_isolate.jpg.
“Harlow's Monkey Experiment – The Bond between Infants and Mothers.” The Psychology Notes Headquarters,
“Harlow's Monkeys.” Psychology, Alexander Street, d16klsh1z1xre7.cloudfront.net/images/cv/experiment/0000/ jpg.
“Harlow's Studies on Attachment.” Psychology Concepts,
McLeod, Saul. “Saul McLeod.” Simply Psychology, 1 Jan. 1970,