Harlow, H., (1958). The Nature of Love.
Arhe Vaninetti
Research Methods and Statistics, PSY 301, Pacific University, Oregon
February 6, 2023
Harlow’s groundbreaking research on the nature of attachment and affection between baby rhesus macaque monkeys and their surrogate, experimental mothers was established due to a lack of understanding on evolutionary love. Harlow found the existing psychological literature on basic needs to be lacking on the essential ingredient of love, affection and attachment. Viewed holistically, Harlow claimed that love was not a tertiary need of these neonatal monkeys, but instead a primary drive comparable to hunger and thirst. As Harlow mentions at the beginning of the research, he was interested in human-based needs for love, but could not commit to the research due to poor motor skills in the human infant and due to confounding variables.
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