What did Harry Harlow's study on infant monkeys demonstrate about the nature of attachment?

• A. Attachment in monkeys is not influenced by either comfort or food.
• B. Infant monkeys develop attachment only to the caregiver that provides food, regardless of comfort.
• C. Monkeys do not form attachments to caregivers under any circumstances.
• D. Attachment is primarily formed through comfort and physical contact rather than just the provision of food.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context of Harry Harlow's study, which involved infant monkeys and their attachment behaviors toward surrogate mothers.
2. Recognize that Harlow presented infant monkeys with two types of surrogate mothers: one made of wire that provided food, and another made of soft cloth that provided comfort but no food.
3. Observe the monkeys' behavior in terms of which surrogate mother they preferred to spend time with, especially when frightened or seeking comfort.
4. Analyze the results showing that infant monkeys spent more time clinging to the cloth mother, indicating that comfort and physical contact were more important for attachment than just food provision.
5. Conclude that Harlow's study demonstrated attachment is primarily formed through comfort and physical contact, challenging the idea that attachment is solely based on food.