Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEarly LifeCareer and ResearchInfluence on PsychologySelected PublicationsRecommended Reading

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Table of Contents

Early Life

Career and Research

Influence on Psychology

Selected Publications

Recommended Reading

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Harry Harlow was an American psychologist who is best-remembered for his series of controversial and often cruel experiments with rhesus monkeys where he placed infant monkeys in isolated chambers. In one review of the most eminent psychologists of the 20th century, Harlow was ranked 26th out of 100. His work contributed to the understanding of the importance of caregiving, affection, and social relationships early in life.

Birth and DeathHarry Harlow was born on October 31, 1905, in Fairfield, Iowa.He died on December 6, 1981, in Tucson, Arizona.

Birth and Death

Harry Harlow was born on October 31, 1905, in Fairfield, Iowa.He died on December 6, 1981, in Tucson, Arizona.

Harry Harlow (born Harry Israel) grew up in Iowa. He attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon, for one year but, after passing a special aptitude test, he enrolled at Stanford University where he started out as an English major. His grades were so bad that after one semester he switched to the study of psychology.

While at Stanford, Harlow studied with psychologist Lewis Terman, who helped develop the Stanford-Binetintelligence test. In 1930, Harlow earned his Ph.D. in psychology. He later changed his last name from Israel to Harlow.

Harry Harlow’s Research on Love

In one version of the experiment, one of the “mothers” was made entirely from the wire while the other was covered with a soft cloth. Harlow found that regardless of whether or not the cloth-covered mother provided food, the infant monkeys would cling to her for comfort. On the other hand, the monkeys would only select the wire mother when she provided food.

Harlow presented his results at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association in 1958 and also reported his findings in his classic article entitled “The Nature of Love” in the journalAmerican Psychologist.

What Is the American Psychological Association?

3 Sources

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Harlow HF.The nature of love.American Psychologist. 1958;13:673-685.

Association for Psychological Science.Harlow’s classic studies revealed the importance of maternal contact.

Blum D.Love at Goon Park. New York: Perseus Publishing; 2002.Vicedo M.The evolution of Harry Harlow: from the nature to the nurture of love.Hist Psychiatry.2010;21(2):190-205. doi:10.1177/0957154x10370909

Blum D.Love at Goon Park. New York: Perseus Publishing; 2002.

Vicedo M.The evolution of Harry Harlow: from the nature to the nurture of love.Hist Psychiatry.2010;21(2):190-205. doi:10.1177/0957154x10370909

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