This assignment looks at the use of studies in Animal Behaviour and how it can relate in Child Development and what we can interpret from them.
The study of animal behaviour is known as `Ethology’
The study of Human behaviour is known and `Ethnology’
The scientific study of animals is founded on: Darwin’s Theory that all life is related and descended from a common ancestor.
Most studies have been carried out on Primate Monkeys as they are thought to be the closest relations to humans.
As animals mature faster than humans this allows scientists to research and gain greater insight of how comparisons can be justified and adapted to understand human behaviour.
The reason studies are carried out on animals is the factor that animals can be isolated from others and monitored for emotions and reactions to these conditions, they can also be put in overcrowded conditions to gauge their reactions, It is not legal to carry out similar studies on humans, for moral and ethical reasons,
Animals like children form attachments, like humans they seek out the friendly face or the voice of a caregiver to meet there needs and then form a bond with them in the hope they offer them protection and make them feel secure and safe.
Harlow’s trials on Rhesus Monkeys proved this theory.
In one of the best known experiments Harlow removed infant monkeys shortly after birth from the natural mother, he then placed them with two artificial mothers (surrogate’s) to discover what the reaction would be.
The first surrogate was made of wire, the second from towelling and foam both had tubes attached to provide food to the monkey, Harlow wanted to observe reactions and see which one they would prefer to feed from.
His findings proved that it did not matter which one provided the food, the monkey preferred to spend most of the time clinging to the softer surrogate, therefore Harlow concluded that `Contact Comfort’