The DOI matches its Crossref record.
The nature of love
Abstract
Much as been written about Harry Harlow’s controversial use of rhesus macaques as experimental subjects in his research on mother-infant bonds. On August 31, 1958, Harlow presented the results of his work in his presidential address at the Sixty-sixth Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association in Washington, D. C. This talk was later published as a paper in the American Psychologist. This chapter is an excerpt from that paper and presents a fascinating perspective into Harlow’s views on human-macaque relations, animal sentience and ‘the nature of love’.
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In the citing paper
“Indeed, at birth or soon after, all primate infants— except humans —cling to their mothers (see Harlow, 1958; Harlow and Harlow, 1962).”
From Back to basics: A re-evaluation of the relevance of imprinting in the genesis of Bowlby’s attachment theory (2022) · cites this paper as Harlow, 1958
In the citing paper
“Indeed, when infant monkeys were separated into two conditions—one in which they only had access to the wire ‘mother’ and the other in which they only had access to the cloth ‘mother’—infants in the wire ‘mother’ context showed significant psychological deficits [61].”
From The social origins of consciousness (2025) · cites this paper as [61]
In the citing paper
“While it has been well established that social isolation causes significant psychological and physical damage, perhaps the strongest evidence comes from preference tests that support the claim that social attention is deeply preferred across a wide range of species, and social isolation is among the most aversive experiences.”
From The social origins of consciousness (2025) · cites this paper as [61]
In the citing paper
“While it has been well established that social isolation causes significant psychological and physical damage, perhaps the strongest evidence comes from preference tests that support the claim that social attention is deeply preferred across a wide range of species, and social isolation is among the most aversive experiences.”
From The social origins of consciousness (2025) · cites this paper as [61]
In the citing paper
“The infants preferred the soft ‘mother’, speaking to the deep importance of social interaction and touch in primates.”
From The social origins of consciousness (2025) · cites this paper as [61]
In the citing paper
“While it has been well established that social isolation causes significant psychological and physical damage, perhaps the strongest evidence comes from preference tests that support the claim that social attention is deeply preferred across a wide range of species, and social isolation is among the most aversive experiences.”
From The social origins of consciousness (2025) · cites this paper as [61]
Citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000) · Psychological Inquiry · doi:10.1207/s15327965pli1104_01 · Cited by 34,210
“Relatedness refers to the desire to feel connected to others—to love and care, and to be loved and cared for (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Bowlby, 1958; Harlow, 1958; Ryan, 1993).”
BackgroundSelf‐determination theory and work motivation
Gagné, M., & Deci, E. L. (2005) · Journal of Organizational Behavior · doi:10.1002/job.322 · Cited by 7,757
“Specifically, consistent with the positions of psychologists such as Harlow (1958) and White (1959), SDT defines needs as universal necessities, as the nutriments that are essential for optimal human development and integrity (Ryan, Sheldon, Kasser, & Deci, 1996).”
BackgroundOn seeing human: A three-factor theory of anthropomorphism
Epley, N., Waytz, A., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2007) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.114.4.864 · Cited by 4,069
“…a keen sensitivity to one's social relations, and a strong motivation to establish and maintain social connections, therefore confers obvious survival and reproductive benefits (Axelrod & Hamilton, 1981; Buss, 1991; Cacioppo, Hawkley, et al., 2006; Harlow, 1958; Kling, Lancaster, & Benitone, 1970).”
BackgroundMental illness and/or mental health? Investigating axioms of the complete state model of health
Keyes, C. L. M. (2005) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.73.3.539 · Cited by 3,357
Toward a hierarchical model of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
Vallerand, R. J. (1997) · Advances in experimental social psychology · doi:10.1016/s0065-2601(08)60019-2 · Cited by 3,198
Metadata
- Authors
- Harlow, H. F.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin System (US)
- Corresponding author
- Harlow, Harry F.
- Venue
- American Psychologist
- Published
- 1958-12
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 673-685
- ISSN
- 0003-066X (ISSN-L)
- 1935-990X
- OpenAlex
- W2076059783
- Cited by
- 2,022
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 58 · 2025: 82 · 2024: 59 · 2023: 61 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 62 · 2020: 58 · 2019: 60 · 2018: 114 · 2017: 48 · 2016: 68 · 2015: 88 · 2014: 76 · 2013: 68 · 2012: 80
- FWCI
- 39.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Psychologist (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › General Psychology › Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology
- Keywords
- Harry Harlow, rhesus monkeys, mother-infant bond, nature of love, animal sentience, animal experimentation, attachment
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