What was the primary aim of Harry Harlow's wire and cloth surrogate mother experiments with rhesus monkeys?
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Review landmark research like the Harlow monkey experiments and others to understand their implications for development theories.
By mastering these studies, you'll gain a deep understanding of foundational experiments that shaped developmental psychology, enabling you to critically analyze theories and apply empirical evidence to real-world developmental issues.
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| # | Front | Back | Hint |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What was the primary aim of Harry Harlow's wire and cloth surrogate mother experiments with rhesus monkeys? | Harlow aimed to investigate the importance of caregiving and companionship in social and emotional development, specifically whether comfort or nourishment was more critical for attachment. | Think about attachment and comfort versus feeding |
| 2 | What did Harlow’s experiments reveal about the nature of attachment in primates? | They showed that comfort and contact are more critical for attachment than mere nourishment, highlighting the importance of emotional bonds in development. | Attachment = comfort first |
| 3 | Which famous experiment by John Bowlby emphasized the importance of early attachment for healthy emotional development? | The Bowlby attachment theory, which proposed that early relationships with caregivers shape later social and emotional functioning. | Bowlby = attachment bonds |
| 4 | What methodology did Bandura use in his famous Bobo doll experiment? | Bandura used observational learning by exposing children to aggressive models and measuring their subsequent aggressive behavior toward a Bobo doll. | Think observational learning and imitation |
| 5 | What was the key finding of Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment? | Children who observed aggressive models were more likely to imitate aggressive behavior, demonstrating the power of observational learning. | Modeling aggression |
| 6 | In the Strange Situation experiment, what behavior indicates secure attachment? | Children explore freely when the caregiver is present and seek comfort when the caregiver returns, showing trust and confidence in the caregiver. | Secure attachment = explore + seek comfort |
| 7 | Who conducted the 'Strange Situation' experiment and what developmental concept did it assess? | Mary Ainsworth conducted it to assess different attachment styles in infants based on their responses to separations and reunions with their caregiver. | Ainsworth = attachment styles |
| 8 | What was the focus of Konrad Lorenz's work with geese and imprinting? | Lorenz studied how young animals form attachments during a critical period, demonstrating that imprinting occurs rapidly after birth and influences future behavior. | Imprinting = rapid attachment in critical period |
| 9 | What did the 'Visual Cliff' experiment demonstrate about infant perception and depth perception? | It showed that by the age of 6-14 months, most infants can perceive depth and will avoid the 'deep' side, indicating early development of visual perception. | Visual cliff = depth perception onset |
| 10 | What was the significance of the 'Robbers Cave' experiment conducted by Muzafer Sherif? | It demonstrated how intergroup conflict can arise and be reduced through cooperative activities, illustrating social development and group dynamics. | Robbers Cave = group conflict reduction |
| 11 | What is the main conclusion from the 'Harlow & Harlow' studies regarding social isolation in monkeys? | Social isolation causes severe emotional and developmental deficits, emphasizing the necessity of social interaction for healthy development. | Isolation harms development |
| 12 | Which experiment demonstrated that children learn aggression through observation, and what was its impact on social learning theory? | Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment; it supported the idea that behavior is learned through modeling and imitation, foundational for social learning theory. | Modeling = learned aggression |
| 13 | What did the 'Twin Study' by Thomas Bouchard reveal about genetic influences on intelligence? | It showed high correlations between identical twins raised apart, indicating a significant genetic contribution to intelligence, though environment also plays a role. | Twins = nature + nurture |
| 14 | How did the 'Visual Cliff' experiment contribute to understanding infant development? | It provided evidence that depth perception develops in infancy, influencing theories about sensory and perceptual development. | Depth perception by months |
| 15 | What was the key ethical concern raised by the Harlow experiments today? | The experiments involved significant emotional and physical distress to the monkeys, raising questions about animal welfare and ethical research practices. | Harlow = ethical debates |
| 16 | Which researcher is best known for establishing the concept of critical periods in development? | Konrad Lorenz, who studied imprinting in geese, highlighted the existence of time-sensitive windows for certain types of learning. | Critical periods = Lorenz |
| 17 | What does the 'Mirror Self-Recognition Test' assess in developmental studies? | It assesses self-awareness, typically emerging around 18-24 months in children and in some animals, indicating cognitive development related to self-recognition. | Mirror test = self-awareness |
| 18 | What is a major implication of Harlow’s experiments for understanding human attachment? | They suggest that emotional comfort and contact are vital for healthy attachment and development, influencing caregiving practices. | Harlow = contact essential |
| 19 | How did the 'Robbers Cave' experiment demonstrate the effect of shared goals on group conflict? | Superordinate goals that require cooperation reduce intergroup hostility, illustrating conflict resolution strategies. | Shared goals = reduce conflict |
| 20 | What was the primary contribution of Harry Harlow’s experiments to attachment theory? | They emphasized that attachment is driven more by comfort and contact than by nourishment, shaping modern understanding of emotional bonds. | Harlow = contact > food |
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