Final answer:
The study involving rhesus monkeys suggests that human infants would prioritize social comfort over food in the same situation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The study involving rhesus monkeys conducted by the Harlows suggests that human infants would prioritize social comfort over food in the same situation. The experiments showed that the monkeys preferred a soft, terrycloth substitute mother that provided no nourishment, indicating that social comfort was more important to them than sustenance. This study demonstrates the significance of early social contact for healthy development in both rhesus monkeys and human infants.
In fact, the study demonstrated that the preferences of male and female Rhesus monkeys matched those of infant human subjects. While the female demonstrated a preference for biological motion over mechanical motion, the male exhibited a higher preference for mechanical motion over biological motion.