8. Harlow’s Maternal Seperation Experiment
Harlow’s maternal separation experiments were quite immoral when put into present day perspective. Essentially, the scientists decided to isolate and raise infant monkeys using two artificially made mothers to see how the young monkeys would react. There was a wire mother, which weaned the monkey; and a cloth mother, which was warm and soft to the touch. During the experiment, the scientists found that the monkey would spend 17 hours with the cloth mother, and 1 hour a day with the wire mother. The experiment incorporated many trials which would induce feelings in the monkey, such as fear or love. When a “diabolical device” was displayed to the monkey, it ran towards the cloth mother. After touching the cloth mother; the demeanor of the monkey changed, and it began to confront the “diabolical device” rather than continue fearing it and attempting to escape.
