Love Experiments with Monkeys

Conceptual digital illustration by American psychologist Harry Harlow, who gained notoriety for his innovative and controversial experiments with rhesus monkeys, with the aim of exploring the formation of emotional bonds between infants and their mothers. To this end, Harlow created a series of tests that involved the interaction of infant monkeys with artificial "mothers" constructed from materials such as cloth and wire.

At that time, scientists believed that the bond between mothers and babies was based primarily on satisfying basic needs, such as food, which was a survival mechanism. Consequently, some psychologists recommended that parents avoid offering too much comfort to their children, fearing that this could lead to excessive dependence.