Harlow's surrogate mother experiments demonstrated that attachment is primarily driven by which factor?

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Multiple Choice

Harlow's surrogate mother experiments demonstrated that attachment is primarily driven by which factor?

Attachment is driven by contact comfort—the security and reassurance that come from physical touch and closeness. In Harlow’s surrogate mother experiments, infant monkeys spent far more time with the soft, cloth-covered surrogate that provided warmth and gentle contact, even though the wire surrogate offered nourishment. The monkeys clung to the cloth mother for comfort and used her as a secure base, especially in frightening situations, demonstrating that emotional bonding arose from tactile security rather than from feeding alone. This shows that comfort and physical contact are the key drivers of early attachment, with nourishment playing a smaller role in forming the bond.

Attachment is driven by contact comfort—the security and reassurance that come from physical touch and closeness. In Harlow’s surrogate mother experiments, infant monkeys spent far more time with the soft, cloth-covered surrogate that provided warmth and gentle contact, even though the wire surrogate offered nourishment. The monkeys clung to the cloth mother for comfort and used her as a secure base, especially in frightening situations, demonstrating that emotional bonding arose from tactile security rather than from feeding alone. This shows that comfort and physical contact are the key drivers of early attachment, with nourishment playing a smaller role in forming the bond.

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