Richard A. Harlow

Richard A. Harlow was an influential American psychologist known for his groundbreaking research on attachment and social development. He is most famous for his experiments with rhesus monkeys, which demonstrated the importance of caregiving and companionship in healthy emotional growth. His work showed that contact comfort is vital for bonding, influencing how psychologists understand human attachment and influencing child development and caregiving practices. Harlow’s findings challenged previous theories that emphasized only biological drives like nourishment, highlighting instead the significance of emotional needs in forming secure, healthy relationships.