What a viral monkey, his plushie, and a 70-year-old experiment tell us
2 days ago
- #attachment theory
- #animal behavior
- #psychology
- Punch, a baby macaque monkey, went viral for seeking companionship after being abandoned by his mother and troop.
- Ichikawa City Zoo provided Punch with an orangutan plushie as a surrogate mother, which he clung to.
- Punch's story parallels Harry Harlow's 1950s psychology experiments on attachment using rhesus monkeys.
- Harlow's experiments showed monkeys preferred a soft, comforting surrogate mother over a wire one that provided food.
- These findings challenged behaviorism, emphasizing emotional nourishment over physical needs in forming attachments.
- Attachment theory, influenced by Harlow, highlights the importance of warmth and love in child development.
- Punch's attachment to his plushie mirrors Harlow's findings, reinforcing the need for emotional comfort.
- Harlow's experiments are now considered unethical due to the recognition of primates' rights.
- Punch's story serves as a reminder of the universal need for love, warmth, and safe spaces.