Which researcher is well known for maternal deprivation and isolation in rhesus monkeys?

• A. Harry Harlow
• B. B.F. Skinner
• C. John Bowlby
• D. Albert Bandura

Answer: (A)

This question tests knowledge of who conducted famous maternal deprivation research with infant rhesus monkeys. The researcher widely associated with these studies is Harry Harlow. He raised infant monkeys with surrogate mothers—one made of wire that provided milk and another covered in soft cloth that offered contact comfort. The infants spent more time with the cloth surrogate, showing that warmth, touch, and close contact are essential for emotional and social development, not just nourishment. When monkeys were deprived of real maternal care or kept in isolation, they exhibited severe social deficits and abnormal behaviors, illustrating the lasting impact of early deprivation. This work highlighted the power of attachment and comfort in development, contrasting with Skinner’s focus on reinforcement, Bowlby’s human attachment theory, and Bandura’s social learning theory.