Final answer:
Harry Harlow's monkey experiments in the 1950s provided significant insights into attachment theory, demonstrating that social comfort is more important than mere nourishment for developing a strong mother-child bond and normal emotional development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The work of Harry Harlow on attachment in monkeys plays a significant role in the field of psychology and developmental research. In the late 1950s, Harlow's experiments with rhesus monkeys challenged the prevailing belief that the mother-child bond was based on the provision of nourishment. Instead, Harlow showed that social comfort and the feeling of security are crucial for the development of a healthy maternal-infant attachment. His work further indicated that a lack of social comfort and early social contact can lead to serious developmental and emotional issues later in life.
Harlow's experiments, involving surrogate wire mesh and cloth monkey mothers, became foundational to the understanding of attachment theory. While the monkeys showed that they would go to the wire mother for food, they overwhelmingly preferred the soft, cloth surrogate that provided no nourishment but offered comfort. This finding was pivotal for further developments in attachment theory by researchers like John Bowlby, who expanded on how critical it is for a child to form a healthy attachment with a caregiver for normal social and emotional development.