Reference:
Opening Skinner's Box
Lauren Slater
2004 W. W. Norton & Company
Summary:
Slater covers Harry Harlowe's experiments on monkeys. These experiments were geared to determine what level of contact was sufficient in rearing a baby monkey. Initial findings showed that a soft surrogate "mother" was sufficient, but were later revised to include motion and some play once the surrogate babies began to display abnormal behavior.
Discussion:
I must admit that about halfway through the chapter, when Harlowe was delivering his first triumphant speech, I thought to myself "I don't buy this 'surrogate alone is sufficient' rhetoric." When it was revealed that these monkeys were greatly disturbed, I felt vindicated. By and large, I have found that studies either confirm what common sense suggests, or they're wrong. On a different note, I think that instead of "Would you pick your child over an animal," a better question would be "Would you pick your pet over a stranger?" I wonder how Slater would answer this question.
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