Who is known for conducting a pivotal experiment with monkeys regarding attachment?

The correct answer is Harry Harlow, who is renowned for his groundbreaking research on attachment through experiments with rhesus monkeys in the 1950s and 1960s. Harlow's studies focused on the importance of caregiving, affection, and emotional support in the development of young primates. He created two types of surrogate "mothers" for the monkeys: one made of wire that provided food and another made of soft cloth that offered comfort.

His findings revealed that the infant monkeys preferred to spend time with the soft cloth mother, indicating that comfort and security were critical to attachment, even over basic needs like nourishment. This work provided significant insights into the emotional bonds that form between caregivers and children, fundamentally shaping our understanding of attachment theory. Harlow's research highlighted the significance of emotional connections in early development, influencing later theories about human attachment and social relationships.