H A R R Y H A R L O W ' S P R I M A T E S
Harry Harlow's experiments with wire monkeys are central demon- strations in the psychology of attachment. Harlow was able to show that infant monkeys cared more for a soft surrogate mother than a metal milk-bearing one, and with this finding, a whole science of touch was born. His experiments, many captured on film, are chilling and underscore the power of proximity in our lives.
bedience. Conformity. Cognitive. Cuing. T h e s e w e r e t h e w o r d s
V^_-^ a n d H a r r y H a r l o w didn't l i k e t h e m . H e w a n t e d t o talk
a b o u t love. H e was a t a c o n f e r e n c e o n e day, s p e a k i n g a b o u t love, and e v e r y t i m e h e used t h e w o r d , o n e o f t h e scientists w o u l d i n t e r r u p t and say, " Y o u m u s t m e a n proximity, d o n ' t y o u ? " until at last H a r l o w , a brash m a n w h o c o u l d also b e strangely shy, said, " I t m a y b e that p r o x - i m i t y i s all y o u k n o w o f l o v e ; I t h a n k G o d I have n o t b e e n s o deprived."
T h a t was j u s t l i k e h i m , t o m a k e s u c h a s t a t e m e n t , i n p u b l i c n o less; h e was p r i c k l y , i m p o l i t e , a m a n w h o i s r e m e m b e r e d b y s o m e w i t h real distaste a n d b y o t h e r s w i t h f o n d n e s s . " M y father," says his son J a m e s H a r l o w , " I r e m e m b e r h o w h e t o o k m e o n all t h e s e trips; h e
t o o k m e t o H a w a i i w h e r e w e g o t t o eat d i n n e r w i t h G r e g o r y B a t e s o n a n d his g i b b o n ; h e b o u g h t m e i c e c r e a m c o n e s ; w e flew o n d o u b l e d e c k e r p l a n e s . " B u t i t d o e s n ' t take m u c h p r o b i n g t o f i n d t h e story's o t h e r side. " H a r l o w was a real bastard; he t r i e d to r u i n m e , " a f o r m e r s t u d e n t says. " H e h a t e d w o m e n , h e was a P I G , " says a n o t h e r , b o t h o f w h o m ask n o t t o b e i d e n t i f i e d . B u t t h e r e h e was, t h e P I G , u p o n t h e p o d i u m , i n 1 9 5 9 , s p e a k i n g s c i e n c e i n a w a y n o o n e h a d dared t o b e f o r e , i n j e c t i n g statistics w i t h h e m o g l o b i n a n d h e a r t , t h e N a b o k o v o f p s y c h o l o g y . H i s e x p e r i m e n t s w e r e l o n g m e d i t a t i o n s o n l o v e , a n d all t h e ways w e r u i n it.
L I T T L E IS K N O W N o f H a r l o w ' s c h i l d h o o d . H e was b o r n in 1 9 0 5 as H a r r y Israel, t o L o n a n d M a b e l Israel, o f Fairfield C o u n t y , I o w a . H i s father was a failed i n v e n t o r , his m o t h e r a d e t e r m i n e d w o m a n w h o perhaps f o u n d t h e m i d w e s t e r n t o w n a little small f o r h e r tastes. S h e was, H a r l o w r e c o l l e c t s in a partly finished a u t o b i o g r a p h y , n o t a w a r m w o m a n — M a b e l Israel, s t a n d i n g b y t h e l i v i n g r o o m ' s p i c t u r e w i n d o w , l o o k i n g o u t o n t o t h e street, w h e r e i t was always w i n t e r , t h e sky t h e c o l o r o f s o m e t h i n g s o i l e d , t h e l a n d flat, w e t s n o w falling i n c l u m p s f r o m t h e tangles o f b l a c k b r a n c h e s .
H a r l o w e x p e r i e n c e d b o u t s o f d e p r e s s i o n t h r o u g h o u t his life; m a y b e h e r e i s w h e r e t h e y b e g a n , i n t h e l o n g m i d w e s t e r n w i n t e r s , t h e land flat a n d f o r e v e r s t r e t c h i n g o u t , t h e days f e e b l e , a m e a g e r s u n l a n c e d o f its l i g h t b y f o u r o ' c l o c k e a c h a f t e r n o o n . O r m a y b e i t was i n t h e d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n his m o t h e r a n d h e ; h e m u s t have l o n g e d f o r s o m e t h i n g s o o t h i n g . A t s c h o o l , h e did n o t f i t i n . " H e was a w e i r d l i t - tle misfit," says his b i o g r a p h e r D e b o r a h B l u m . H a r l o w was i n t e r e s t e d i n p o e t r y a n d d r a w i n g . T h e I o w a s c h o o l c u r r i c u l u m offered c o u r s e s l i k e " F a r m M a n a g e m e n t a n d C r o p R o t a t i o n " a n d " H o w t o C o o k t o P l e a s e Y o u r M a n . " O n e day, his f o u r t h - g r a d e t e a c h e r gave a p o e t r y w r i t i n g a s s i g n m e n t , a n d this was s o e x c i t i n g f o r h e w o u l d f i t i n t o this, h e c o u l d b e a part o f t h i s — u n t i l t h e s u b j e c t was r e v e a l e d : t h e b e a u t y o f b r u s h i n g y o u r t e e t h . B r u s h i n g y o u r t e e t h . B r u s h i n g y o u r
t e e t h . B y a g e t e n , H a r l o w h a d b e g u n t o d r a w e v e r y free m i n u t e h e l a d . B e n d i n g o v e r t h e large s k e t c h pad, t o n g u i n g his o w n t e e t h i n i e r c e c o n c e n t r a t i o n ; h e m a d e a strange and b e a u t i f u l l a n d called r a z o o , and this land h e p o p u l a t e d w i t h w i n g e d animals a n d h o r n e d leasts, e v e r y t h i n g f l u i d , f l y i n g , s w o o p i n g , and w h e n h e was d o n e ith t h e p i c t u r e , h e w o u l d b i s e c t t h e beasts w i t h sharp b l a c k lines, lalve t h e m , q u a r t e r t h e m , s o t h e a n i m a l s lay o n t h e page, all b l o o d y : o l o r and still s o m e h o w beautiful, v i v i d , and v i v i s e c t e d .
H a r l o w g r a d u a t e d f r o m t h e Fairfield C o u n t y H i g h S c h o o l , w e n t t o R e e d C o l l e g e for o n e year, and t h e n c o m p l e t e d his u n d e r g r a d u a t e i d g r a d u a t e w o r k a t S t a n f o r d , w h e r e e v e r y o n e was e l o q u e n t and w h e r e H a r l o w , w h o h a d a s p e e c h i m p e d i m e n t , felt t o o shy t o talk. N o p l a c e , H a r l o w o f t e n said, m a d e h i m feel m o r e i n s e c u r e than S t a n f o r d . T h e r e f o r e , h e w o r k e d like a d o g . H e s t u d i e d w i t h L e w i s T e r m a n , t h e f a m o u s I Q r e s e a r c h e r w h o was j u s t t h e n p r o b i n g i n t o gifted c h i l d r e n . T h e r e was H a r l o w w i t h his lisp a n d t h e r e w e r e these s h i n i n g c h i l d r e n c o m i n g i n t o t h e lab, p u t t i n g t o g e t h e r b r i g h t b l o c k s and puzzle p i e c e s . T e r m a n t o l d H a r l o w h e w o u l d a m o u n t t o n o t h - ing, that t h e m o s t h e c o u l d e x p e c t for h i m s e l f was a j o b a t a c o m m u - nity c o l l e g e . B u t H a r l o w p l e a d e d , and a t last T e r m a n said s o m e t h i n g t o t h e effect o f , " C h a n g e y o u r n a m e f r o m Israel t o s o m e t h i n g , s o m e -
i n g else . . . and w e ' l l see w h a t we c a n do." So H a r l o w p i c k e d Harlow, and T e r m a n , i n 1 9 3 0 , g o t h i m a j o b a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f W i s c o n s i n , w h e r e t h e lakes are like b i g b l u e eyes i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e l a n d - l o c k e d land, a n d t h e w i n t e r w i n d i s full o f t e e t h .
H a r l o w w o u l d g o w h e r e v e r h e was sent. H e lisped and l i m p e d his way from s u n n y P a l o A l t o t o M a d i s o n , W i s c o n s i n . H e m a r r i e d o n e o f Terman's gifted c h i l d r e n , w h o was n o w n o t a c h i l d , C l a r a M e a r s ,
nth h e r I Q o f 1 5 5 , a n d T e r m a n w r o t e a l e t t e r o f c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s : " I h a p p y t o see t h e j o i n i n g o f Clara's e x t r a o r d i n a r y h e r e d i t a r y m a t e - rial w i t h H a r r y ' s p r o d u c t i v i t y as a p s y c h o l o g i s t . " A n i c e letter, I s u p - pose, t h o u g h i t s o u n d s m o r e like a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y t h a n h u m a n bonding, and t h e p u t - d o w n is e v e r so slight. C l a r a has t h e a m a z i n g genetic p o t e n t i a l . H a r l o w , w h a t d o e s h e have? W h a t d o e s h e H A V E ?
T h i s was a q u e s t i o n that p l a g u e d H a r r y H a r l o w for all o f his life, a q u e s t i o n h e asked o v e r a n d o v e r a g a i n — i n t h e darkest days, i n t h e s h e e r y e l l o w days w h e n h e was h a p p y — s t i l l h e asked t h e q u e s t i o n , always s u s p e c t i n g that his gifts w e r e f l e e t i n g , a c q u i r e d o n l y b e c a u s e o f a great a n d s t u b b o r n a n d finally s t r a n g u l a t i n g g r i p .
W h e n H a r l o w c a m e t o M a d i s o n , h e p l a n n e d t o study rats, b u t h e w o u n d u p w i t h m o n k e y s , rhesus m o n k e y s , a small a g i l e b r e e d . E v e r T e r m a n ' s s t u d e n t , h e b e g a n b y d e v i s i n g a test o f m o n k e y i n t e l l i - g e n c e , a s o r t o f s i m i a n I Q profile, a n d h e was e x t r e m e l y successful a t p r o v i n g that t h e s e little p r i m a t e s c o u l d s o l v e p r o b l e m s i n ways far m o r e c o m p l e x t h a n p r i o r p r i m a t e r e s e a r c h e r s h a d e v e r t h o u g h t . H i s r e p u t a t i o n rose. M a d i s o n gave h i m a n o l d b o x f a c t o r y for a p r i m a t e lab, a n d s t u d e n t s s o u g h t h i m o u t . W h e n s t u d y i n g t h e m o n k e y s , H a r l o w w o u l d separate t h e infants f r o m t h e i r m o t h e r s a n d p e e r s , a n d this i s h o w h e s t u m b l e d i n t o f a m e . H e was s t u d y i n g t h e m o n k e y h e a d , b u t h e o b s e r v e d t h e m o n k e y h e a r t , a n d h e w o n d e r e d . T h e i n f a n t m o n k e y s , w h e n s e p a r a t e d , b e c a m e e x t r e m e l y a t t a c h e d t o t h e t e r r y c l o t h t o w e l s c o v e r i n g t h e c a g e f l o o r s . T h e y w o u l d lie o n t h e m , g r i p t h e m i n t h e i r t i n y fists, t a n t r u m i f t h e y w e r e t a k e n away, j u s t l i k e a h u m a n i n f a n t w i t h a ratty b l a n k e t o r a stuffed b e a r . T h e m o n - keys l o v e d t h e s e t o w e l s . W h y ? T h i s was a h u g e q u e s t i o n . A t t a c h m e n t h a d p r e v i o u s l y b e e n u n d e r s t o o d i n t e r m s o f n u t r i t i v e rewards. W e l o v e o u r m o t h e r s b e c a u s e w e l o v e t h e i r m i l k . A b a b y c l i n g s t o its m o t h e r b e c a u s e i t sees t h e s w o l l e n breasts, t h e tan a u r e o l e a n d t h e n u b o f n i p p l e r i s i n g f r o m its p l e a t e d folds, a n d i t feels thirst o r h u n g e r . K e n n e t h H u l l a n d C l a r k S p e n c e t h e m s e l v e s h a d said all o f h u m a n a t t a c h m e n t i s p r e d i c a t e d o n d r i v e r e d u c t i o n : h u n g e r i s a p r i - m a r y d r i v e a n d w e w a n t t o r e d u c e it; s o are thirst a n d s e x . F r o m t h e 1 9 3 0 s t h r o u g h t h e 1 9 5 0 s , t h e t h e o r y o f d r i v e r e d u c t i o n a n d its l i n k t o l o v e w e n t u n q u e s t i o n e d .
H a r l o w , h o w e v e r , b e g a n t o q u e s t i o n it. H e fed t h e b a b y m o n k e y s b y h a n d , w i t h little plastic b o t t l e s , a n d w h e n h e t o o k t h e b o t t l e s away, t h e infants j u s t s m a c k e d t h e i r lips a n d m a y b e w i p e d a w h i t e d r i b b l e o f f t h e i r h a i r y c h i n s . B u t w h e n H a r l o w t r i e d t o t a k e t h e t e r r y c l o t h
t o w e l s away, w e l l , t h e s i m i a n s s c r e a m e d l i k e a s l a u g h t e r h o u s e , t h r o w - i n g t h e i r small b o d i e s d o w n a n d c l u t c h i n g a t b u n c h e s o f c l o t h . T h i s fascinated H a r l o w . T h e s i m i a n s s c r e a m e d . ( S o m e w h e r e else, i n a n o t h e r t i m e , M a b e l h a d s t o o d b y t h e w i n d o w , h e r s o n j u s t t w o feet f r o m h e r plush b u t c o o l side. A n i m a l s f l e w i n a p e r s o n a l forest, slashed w i t h b l a c k l i n e s , b l e e d i n g b l u e a n d red.) H e w a t c h e d t h e m o n k e y s s c r e a m a n d t h o u g h t l o v e . W h a t i s l o v e ? T h e n H a r l o w saw. A s his b i o g r a p h e r B l u m w r i t e s , t h e b e s t w a y t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e h e a r t , was t o b r e a k it. A n d s o started his b r u t a l a n d beautiful c a r e e r .
R H E S U S M A C A Q U E M O N K E Y S share r o u g h l y n i n e t y - f o u r p e r c e n t o f t h e i r g e n e t i c h e r i t a g e w i t h h u m a n s . A n o t h e r w a y t o p u t this i s that h u m a n s are n i n e t y - f o u r p e r c e n t rhesus m a c a q u e m o n k e y , s i x p e r c e n t p e o p l e . M o v i n g u p t h e p h y l o g e n e t i c scale, w e are a p p r o x i m a t e l y n i n e t y - e i g h t p e r c e n t o r a n g u t a n o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y n i n e t y - n i n e p e r - c e n t c h i m p a n z e e , w i t h j u s t t h e barest f l e c k o f f l e s h a s s o l e l y h u m a n . T h i s i s p r e c i s e l y w h y p s y c h o l o g i c a l r e s e a r c h e r s have l o n g g r a v i t a t e d t o w a r d t h e use o f p r i m a t e s i n t h e i r e x p e r i m e n t s . Says p r i m a t e r e s e a r c h e r R o g e r F o u t s , " M o n k e y s have a w h o l e r e p e r t o r i e o f l a n - g u a g e , a n e n t i r e , c o m p l e x i n t e l l i g e n c e that w e fail t o v a l u e o n l y b e c a u s e o f o u r C a r t e s i a n v i e w o f t h e w o r l d . " O b v i o u s t o F o u t s , m a y b e , b u t n o t t o H a r l o w , w h o said, " T h e o n l y t h i n g I c a r e a b o u t i s w h e t h e r a m o n k e y w i l l t u r n o u t a p r o p e r t y I c a n p u b l i s h . I d o n ' t have any l o v e for t h e m . I n e v e r have. I d o n ' t really l i k e a n i m a l s . I despise cats. I h a t e d o g s . H o w c o u l d y o u l o v e m o n k e y s ? "
T h e e x p e r i m e n t r e q u i r e d w i r e c u t t e r s , c a r d b o a r d c o n e s , h o t c o i l s , steel nails, a n d soft c l o t h . H a r l o w used t h e w i r e c u t t e r s to f a s h i o n a w i r e m o t h e r , its t o r s o p a t t e r n e d w i t h small squares e v e r y w h e r e , a s i n - gle i n f l e x i b l e breast " o n t h e v e n t r a l front." Affixed to this breast, a steel n i p p l e p i e r c e d w i t h a t i n y h o l e t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e m o n k e y m i l k c o u l d f l o w .
T h e n , H a r l o w f a s h i o n e d a soft s u r r o g a t e , a c a r d b o a r d c o n e b u n t e d in a t e r r y c l o t h t o w e l .
W e designed the m o t h e r surrogate i n terms o f h u m a n - e n g i n e e r i n g principals. . . . We produced a perfectly p r o p o r t i o n e d , streamlined b o d y stripped o f unnecessary bulges and appendages. R e d u n d a n c y in the surrogate mother's system was avoided by reducing the n u m - b e r of breasts from t w o to o n e and placing this unibreast in the upper thoracic sagittal position, thus m a x i m i z i n g the natural and k n o w n perceptual and m o t o r capabilities o f t h e infant o p e r a t o r . . . . the result was a m o t h e r , soft, w a r m , and tender, a m o t h e r with infi- nite patience, a m o t h e r available 24 hours a d a y . . . . furthermore we designed a m o t h e r - m a c h i n e with m a x i m a l m a i n t e n a n c e efficiency since failure of any system or function c o u l d be resolved by simple substitution of black boxes and n e w c o m p o n e n t parts. It is o u r o p i n i o n that we e n g i n e e r e d a very superior m o n k e y m o t h e r , although this position is n o t held universally by m o n k e y fathers.
S o , t h e y started. T h e y t o o k a g r o u p o f n e w b o r n rhesus m a c a q u e babies and put t h e m i n t h e c a g e w i t h t h e t w o surrogate m o t h e r s : t h e w i r e m o t h e r full o f f o o d , t h e c l o t h m o t h e r w i t h a n e m p t y breast a n d a sweet smile. L a b assistants' n o t e s detail t h e trauma o f t h e e x p e r i m e n t : t h e real m o t h e r m a c a q u e s , realizing t h e i r b a b i e s w e r e b e i n g stolen, s c r e a m i n g and b a n g i n g t h e i r h e a d against t h e c a g e ; t h e infants c h o o - c h o o i n g as t h e y w e r e h u r l e d i n t o a separate space. H o u r after h o u r this animal fear g o i n g o n , a n d t h e lab f i l l e d w i t h t h e s t e n c h o f it, a n x i o u s scat, soft stools i n d i c a t i n g , H a r l o w w r i t e s , h i g h e m o t i o n a l i t y . T h e cages w e r e s m e a r e d g o l d w i t h grief, t h e infant m a c a q u e s all balled o v e r t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e i r tails h e l d h i g h t o s h o w t h e i r tiny o o z i n g anuses.
B u t t h e n , H a r l o w o b s e r v e d s o m e t h i n g a m a z i n g start t o h a p p e n . W i t h i n a m a t t e r o f days, t h e b a b y m a c a q u e s transferred t h e i r a f f e c - t i o n s f r o m t h e real m o t h e r , w h o was n o l o n g e r available, t o t h e c l o t h s u r r o g a t e m o t h e r , t o w h o m t h e y c l u n g , o v e r w h o m t h e y c r a w l e d , m a n i p u l a t i n g h e r f a c e i n t h e i r m i n i a t u r e hands, b i t i n g h e r gently, s p e n d i n g h o u r s u p o n h o u r s o n h e r b e l l y a n d b a c k . T h e c l o t h m o t h e r , h o w e v e r , h a d n o m i l k , s o w h e n t h e y o u n g s t e r s w e r e h u n g r y , t h e y w o u l d s c a m p e r off, dart o v e r t o t h e steel m a m m a r y m a c h i n e — t h e
c h i c k e n - w i r e m o t h e r — a n d t h e n , h a v i n g had t h e i r f i l l from t h e f o u n - tain, r u n b a c k t o t h e safety o f t h e soft t o w e l . H a r l o w g r a p h e d t h e m e a n a m o u n t o f t i m e t h e m o n k e y s s p e n t n u r s i n g versus c u d d l i n g , a n d his h e a r t m u s t have p a t t e r e d fast, for h e was o n t h e b r i n k o f dis- covery, a n d t h e n h e was o v e r discovery's e d g e . " W e w e r e n o t s u r - p r i s e d t o d i s c o v e r t h a t c o n t a c t c o m f o r t was a n i m p o r t a n t basic affectional o r love v a r i a b l e , b u t w e did n o t e x p e c t i t t o o v e r s h a d o w s o c o m p l e t e l y t h e v a r i a b l e o f n u r s i n g ; i n d e e d , t h e disparity i s s o great a s t o suggest that t h e p r i m a r y f u n c t i o n o f n u r s i n g . . . i s that o f i n s u r i n g f r e q u e n t a n d i n t i m a t e b o d y c o n t a c t o f t h e infant w i t h t h e m o t h e r . "
H e r e H a r l o w was e s t a b l i s h i n g that l o v e g r o w s f r o m t o u c h , n o t taste, w h i c h is why, w h e n t h e m o t h e r ' s m i l k dries up, as it i n e v i t a b l y d o e s , t h e c h i l d c o n t i n u e s t o l o v e h e r , a n d t h e n t h e c h i l d takes this love, t h e m e m o r y o f it, a n d recasts i t o u t w a r d , s o that e v e r y i n t e r a c - t i o n is a replay a n d a r e v i s i o n of this early t a c t i l e t o u c h . " C e r t a i n l y , " w r i t e s H a r l o w , " m a n c a n n o t live b y m i l k a l o n e . "
T h e 1 9 3 0 s t o 1 9 5 0 s was a c o l d era i n c h i l d r e a r i n g . T h e f a m o u s p e d i a t r i c i a n D r . B e n j a m i n S p o c k advised f e e d i n g b y s c h e d u l e ; S k i n n e r u n d e r s t o o d t h e infant i n t e r m s o f its p r i o r p a t t e r n s o f r e i n - f o r c e m e n t a n d p u n i s h m e n t , s o that i f y o u w a n t e d t o stop a b a b y from c r y i n g , y o u w e r e t o s t o p r e w a r d i n g i t b y p i c k i n g i t up. N e s t l e a n d R o s s l a b o r a t o r i e s d i s c o v e r e d f o r m u l a , w h i t e p o w d e r , plastic nipples, t e p i d w a t e r f r o m t h e f a u c e t . J o h n W a t s o n f a m o u s l y w r o t e , i n his b o o k s a b o u t h o w t o rear c h i l d r e n , " D o n o t o v e r i n d u l g e t h e m . D o n o t kiss t h e m g o o d n i g h t . R a t h e r , give a b r i e f b o w a n d shake t h e i r h a n d b e f o r e t u r n i n g o f f t h e light."
W e l l , H a r l o w was g o i n g t o take all that d r e c k t o t h e d r e c k b i n and replace i t w i t h the R E A L truth, w h i c h was that y o u s h o u l d n e v e r shake a baby's h a n d . Y o u s h o u l d n o t hesitate to h o l d h i m . T o u c h is c r i t - ical, n o t a spoiler b u t a saver; h o w e v e r , t h e g o o d n e w s is, any old p a l m will do. " L o v e for t h e real m o t h e r a n d love for t h e surrogate m o t h e r appear t o b e v e r y s i m i l a r . . . . A s far a s w e c a n o b s e r v e , t h e infant m o n - key's affection for t h e real m o t h e r is v e r y strong, b u t no stronger than that o f t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l m o n k e y for t h e surrogate c l o t h m o t h e r . "
I n H a r l o w ' s lab, a t this t i m e , t h e r e rose a n air o f g r e a t e x c i t e m e n t . T h e r e s e a r c h e r s h a d s t u m b l e d i n t o a m a j o r l o v e v a r i a b l e a n d h a d d i s - c o u n t e d a n o t h e r l o v e v a r i a b l e — f e e d i n g — a s o f m i n i m a l i m p o r t a n c e , a n d t h e y c o u l d s h o w all this o n a g r a p h . I t was w i n t e r i n M a d i s o n , t h e n , d e a d i n t h e m i d d l e o f a v e r y c o l d w i n t e r , t h e trees e n c a s e d i n i c e l i k e c h a n d e l i e r s . S t u d e n t s w a t c h e d s n o w fall, saw i t pile u p i n l o o s e drifts o n t h e l e d g e s o f t h e l a b o r a t o r y w i n d o w s , a n d felt i t was a t i m e o f p u r e e x c i t e m e n t .
H a r l o w a n d c o m p a n y h a d i d e n t i f i e d " c o n t a c t c o m f o r t " a s a n essential c o m p o n e n t o f l o v e . S u r e l y t h e r e w e r e o t h e r c o m p o n e n t s . W h a t a b o u t m o t i o n o r facial features? W h e n w e are f i r s t b o r n , w e see o u r m o t h e r ' s f a c e a s a series o f shifting s h a d o w s , t r i a n g l e s sliding o n e o v e r t h e o t h e r , a swirl o f s o m e t h i n g that m i g h t b e hair, t h e n u b o f s o m e t h i n g that m i g h t b e a n o s e , o r a n i p p l e , w e d o n o t k n o w . W e o p e n o u r eyes a n d l o o k u p w a r d , a n d t h e r e i s t h e w o m a n i n t h e m o o n , a p l a n e t b e a m i n g b a c k a t us, w i t h beautiful b l u e spots.
Surely, H a r l o w h y p o t h e s i z e d , t h e face i s a n o t h e r love variable. T h e o r i g i n a l surrogates had p r i m i t i v e faces w i t h b l a c k b i c y c l e reflectors for eyes. N o w H a r l o w o r d e r e d his lab assistant, W i l l i a m M a s o n , t o m a k e a really g o o d m o n k e y m a s k . T h e plan was t o t a k e y e t a n o t h e r n e w b o r n m a c a q u e a n d give i t a surrogate w i t h s o m e b e a u t y a n d see w h a t sort o f a t t a c h m e n t f o l l o w e d . H o w e v e r , t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l m o n k e y was b o r n b e f o r e t h e face was finished, so in a rush, H a r l o w d r o p p e d t h e n e w - b o r n i n t h e c a g e w i t h its t e r r y c l o t h m o m , w h o h a d o n l y a b l a n k f e a - tureless f l a t l a n d for a face. N o eyes. N o n o s e . N o t h i n g . I t did n o t s e e m t o m a t t e r . T h e little m o n k e y l o v e d t h e faceless m o t h e r , kissing it, n i b - b l i n g it. W h e n t h e o r n a m e n t a l m o n k e y m a s k — s o m u c h prettier, s o m u c h m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g — w a s finally finished, t h e b a b y w o u l d have n o n e o f it. T h e researchers t r i e d t o attach t h e m a s k e d ball t o t h e sur- rogate m o t h e r , a n d t h e infant s c r e a m e d i n h o r r o r , r u s h e d t o a c o r n e r o f its c a g e , r o c k e d violently, grasping its r a w genitals. T h e y b r o u g h t t h e m a s k e d m o t h e r closer, closer, a n d t h e little m o n k e y r e a c h e d o u t its h a n d , f l i p p e d t h e ball a r o u n d , s o t h e b l a n k side was staring. O n l y t h e n did h e c o m e forward, ready t o play. N o m a t t e r h o w m a n y t i m e s t h e y
t u r n e d t h e m a s k e d m o t h e r t o w a r d t h e baby, t h e b a b y t u r n e d t h e m a s k away, a n d t h e n a t last h e l e a r n e d t o r e m o v e t h e h e a d c o m p l e t e l y , r e t u r n i n g h i m s e l f t o t h e b l a n k , featureless face, p r e f e r r i n g t h e o r i g i n a l view, i m p r i n t e d — s o m e m i g h t say, i n s c r i p t e d , t h e t e m p l a t e for all that follows. M a n y have c a l l e d H a r l o w ' s e x p e r i m e n t s c r u e l — t o y a n k apart m o t h e r a n d c h i l d , t o devise w i r e f e e d i n g stations w i t h sharp nipples, t o listen t o p r i m a t e s c r y i n g r i e f , t o w a t c h t h e m c l i n g t o m a n n e q u i n s b e c a u s e t h e y have n o t h i n g e l s e — i t m a y b e c r u e l , yes. B u t t h e r e i s also s o m e t h i n g powerful a n d affirmative a b o u t w h a t h e gave us: t h e sure k n o w l e d g e that o u r n e e d s are m o r e c o m p l e x t h a n s i m p l e h u n g e r , that w e s e e k t o c o n n e c t a t all costs, that w e care n o t a w h i t for c o n v e n - tional beauty, a n d will always find t h e first face t h e loveliest f a c e — n o m a t t e r h o w far w e g o .
T H I S A L L O C C U R R E D d u r i n g t h e late 1 9 5 0 s a n d 1 9 6 0 s . H a r l o w was s t u d y i n g l o v e a n d h a d e a r l i e r fallen o u t o f l o v e . H e was always a t his lab, n e v e r a t h o m e . C l a r a , w i t h t h e h i g h I Q , w e l l , s h e was a t h o m e t a k i n g c a r e o f t h e i r t w o b a b i e s , w h i l e n i g h t after n i g h t h e r h u s b a n d was o u t i n t h e o l d b o x factory, d e v i s i n g test after m o n k e y test. I t was a c o l d , c o l d w i n t e r i n M a d i s o n , a n d H a r r y H a r l o w h a d a n affair. " T h a t ' s w h y m y parents b r o k e up," says H a r l o w ' s o l d e s t s o n , R o b e r t Israel. "It's v e r y s i m p l e , m y f a t h e r h a d a n affair."
C l a r a left w i t h h e r t w o c h i l d r e n , l a t e r t o m a r r y a c o n s t r u c t i o n w o r k e r a n d live i n a trailer i n t h e s o u t h w e s t part o f t h e c o u n t r y . H a r l o w b a r e l y s e e m e d t o n o t i c e . T h e r e was a w o m a n — w e d o n ' t k n o w w h o s h e is, possibly a s t u d e n t — a n d t h e n t h e r e was this o t h e r w o m a n w h o m h e c a l l e d t h e I r o n M a i d e n . T h e I r o n M a i d e n was a special s u r r o g a t e m o t h e r H a r l o w h a d d e s i g n e d ; s h e s h o t o u t sharp spikes a n d blasted h e r b a b i e s w i t h air s o c o l d a n d forceful t h e infants w e r e t h r o w n b a c k against t h e bars o f t h e i r c a g e s , c l i n g i n g a n d s c r e a m i n g . T h i s , c l a i m e d H a r l o w , was a n evil m o t h e r , a n d h e w a n t e d t o s e e w h a t w o u l d h a p p e n .
i s w h e r e h e steps from s c i e n c e i n t o fairy t a l e s — b r u t a l s t e p m o t h e r s , t h e B r o t h e r s G r i m m , t h e I r o n M a i d e n i n a m a g i c forest w h e r e trees p u t d o w n t h e i r s e c o n d legs a n d start t o w a l k away. W h y did H a r l o w w a n t to s e e s u c h things? A n i m a l r i g h t s activists say he's a sadist, p u r e a n d s i m p l e . I , m y s e l f , d o n ' t t h i n k that's it, a l t h o u g h w h a t drove h i m — t h e v a r i a b l e s — I c a n n o t q u i t e d e t e c t . D i d M a b e l have sharp spikes? T o o easy. W a s his n a t u r e essentially, s e r o t o n e r g i c a l l y t i l t e d t o w a r d t h e difficult? P e r h a p s , b u t t o o easy. W a s i t that h e h a d s e e n s o m e t h i n g s ? H e did a stint w i t h t h e a r m y w h e r e h e w e n t t o N e w M e x i c o a n d o b s e r v e d soldiers s e t t i n g o f f a t o m i c blasts. H e saw t h e f i r e c l o u d , t h e b l a c k fallout i n t h e d i s t a n c e , t h e h u g e h o r r i f i c light. H e has n e v e r w r i t t e n a b o u t that. B u t t h e I r o n M a i d e n , h e has w r i t t e n a b o u t h e r , a l m o s t w i t h g l e e . H e m a d e m a n y v a r i a t i o n s : s o m e i r o n m a i d e n s p u m p e d freezing c o l d w a t e r o v e r t h e i r c h i l d r e n ; o t h e r s s t a b b e d t h e m . N o m a t t e r w h a t t h e t o r t u r e , H a r l o w o b s e r v e d that t h e b a b i e s w o u l d n o t let g o . T h e y w o u l d n o t b e d e t e r r e d ; t h e y w o u l d n o t b e t h w a r t e d . M y g o d , l o v e i s s t r o n g . Y o u are m a u l e d a n d y o u c o m e c r a w l i n g b a c k . Y o u are f r o z e n , a n d yet still y o u s e e k h e a t f r o m t h e s a m e w r o n g s o u r c e . T h e r e i s n o partial r e i n f o r c e m e n t t o e x p l a i n this b e h a v i o r ; t h e r e i s o n l y t h e dark side o f t o u c h , t h e reality o f p r i m a t e r e l a t i o n s h i p s , w h i c h i s that t h e y c a n kill u s w h i l e t h e y h o l d u s — t h a t ' s sad. B u t again, I find s o m e beauty. T h e b e a u t y i s this: W e are c r e a t u r e s o f g r e a t faith. W e w i l l b u i l d b r i d g e s , against all odds w e w i l l b u i l d t h e m — f r o m h e r e t o t h e r e . F r o m m e t o y o u . C o m e c l o s e r .
L I K E M I L G R A M , H A R L O W h a d a flair f o r t h e d r a m a t i c , t h e lyrically p e r v e r t e d , a n d s o h e f i l m e d his m o n k e y s c l u t c h i n g t h e i r m o t h e r s o f w i r e a n d snow, p r i c k e d b y i r o n m a i d e n s . T h e m o v i e s are p o w e r f u l , p o w e r f u l d e m o n s t r a t i o n s o f d e s p e r a t i o n , a n d h e was n o t afraid t o s h o w t h e m . H e k n e w that p o p u l a r s c i e n c e has a n e l e m e n t o f art, e v e n e n t e r t a i n m e n t .
A s s o c i a t i o n , a n o t i n s i g n i f i c a n t h o n o r . S o h e w e n t t o W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . , w i t h his m o n k e y m o v i e s a n d p r e p a r e d t o t a k e t h e p o d i u m . H e was j u b i l a n t . H e h a d r e m a r r i e d a f e l l o w p s y c h o l o g i s t , M a r g a r e t K u e n n e ; h e c a l l e d h e r Peggy. H e s t o o d o n t h e dais i n a c a v e r n o u s c o n v e n t i o n r o o m , l o o k i n g o u t a t a c r o w d o f s e r i o u s , b e s p e c t a c l e d faces, a n d he said, " L o v e is a w o n d r o u s state, d e e p , t e n d e r , a n d r e w a r d i n g . B e c a u s e o f its i n t i m a t e and p e r s o n a l n a t u r e i t i s r e g a r d e d b y s o m e a s a n i m p r o p e r t o p i c f o r e x p e r i m e n t a l r e s e a r c h . B u t w h a t - e v e r o u r p e r s o n a l feelings m a y b e , o u r assigned m i s s i o n a s p s y c h o l o - gists i s t o a n a l y z e all facets o f h u m a n a n d a n i m a l b e h a v i o r i n t o t h e i r c o m p o n e n t v a r i a b l e s . . . . P s y c h o l o g i s t s , o r a t least p s y c h o l o g i s t s w h o w r i t e t e x t b o o k s , n o t o n l y s h o w n o i n t e r e s t i n t h e o r i g i n a n d d e v e l - o p m e n t o f l o v e o r a f f e c t i o n , b u t t h e y s e e m t o b e u n a w a r e o f its v e r y e x i s t e n c e . " It's a g r a n d s t a t e m e n t , m a d e for a g r a n d o c c a s i o n by a m a n w h o k n o w s h o w t o m a r k e t h i m s e l f . H e i n t e r s p e r s e d his s p e e c h w i t h b l a c k - a n d - w h i t e film clips o f t h e s c i - f i - l o o k i n g surrogates and t h e b a b i e s w h o d e p e n d e d o n t h e m . A t t h e e n d o f his s p e e c h , w h i c h h e titled " T h e N a t u r e o f L o v e " a n d later p u b l i s h e d i n t h e American Psychologist, H a r l o w o p e r a t i c a l l y c a m e to a c r e s c e n d o a n d a c o n c l u - s i o n all at o n c e :
If the research c o m p l e t e d and proposed makes a contribution, I shall be grateful; but I have also given full thought to the possible practical applications. T h e s o c i o e c o n o m i c demands o f the present and the threatened s o c i o e c o n o m i c demands of the future have led A m e r i c a n w o m e n to displace, or threaten to displace, the American man in sci- e n c e and industry. If this problem continues, the problem of proper child rearing practices faces us with startling clarity. It is c h e e r i n g in v i e w of this trend to realize that the A m e r i c a n male is physically endowed with all the really essential e q u i p m e n t to c o m p e t e with the A m e r i c a n female on equal terms in o n e essential activity: the rearing of infants. We n o w k n o w that w o m e n in the working classes are not needed in the h o m e because of their primary mammalian
capabilities; and it is possible in the foreseeable future that neonatal nursing will n o t be regarded as a necessity, but as a luxury, a form of conspicuous c o n s u m p t i o n , limited perhaps to the upper classes. B u t whatever course history may take, it is c o m f o r t i n g to k n o w that we are n o w in c o n t a c t with the nature of love.
I i m a g i n e a m o m e n t o f s t u n n e d silence, t h e n t h u n d e r o u s applause. T h e lights flicker o n . H a r l o w holds up his hands: No m o r e . Please more. M o r e was t o c o m e . H a r l o w had released research that effectively s h o w e d a c l o t h surrogate m o t h e r was m o r e i m p o r t a n t than a n u r s i n g m o t h e r a n d c o u l d stand in j u s t as well as t h e real m o t h e r , for t h e infants c a m e t o " l o v e " t h e i r b u n t i n g and appeared t o m a t u r e well i n h e r p r e s - e n c e , playing a n d e x p l o r i n g . S o o n after that s p e e c h , t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f W i s c o n s i n at M a d i s o n put o u t a press release: " M o t h e r h o o d O b s o l e t e , " i t a n n o u n c e d . T h e p o p u l a r press f o l l o w e d . A n d H a r l o w ? W e l l , his c a r e e r leapt up, or crossed over, from t h e professional realm i n t o t h e c u l t u r e at large. He was on To Tell the Truth, a n d C B S m a d e a d o c u m e n - tary o f his w o r k , narrated b y C h a r l e s C o l l i n g w o o d . T h e essential m e s - sage was m u r k y i n its m e a n i n g for w o m e n : y o u r babies d o n ' t n e e d y o u , on t h e o n e hand; go o u t a n d g e t free, on t h e o t h e r . It was a feminist p u t - d o w n , a m i x e d - u p , snarled, multilayered missive that o o z e d b o t h love a n d l o n g i n g , a p o t e n t c o m b i n a t i o n .
H a r l o w h a d t w o m o r e c h i l d r e n w i t h his n e w w i f e . P e g g y h a d a n a d v a n c e d d e g r e e i n p s y c h o l o g y a n d , like C l a r a , she t o o d r o p p e d o u t o f t h e w o r k f o r c e t o raise h e r b a b i e s . H a r l o w i s q u o t e d saying, later i n his life, " B o t h m y w i v e s h a d t h e g o o d sense n o t t o b e w o m e n ' s l i b - b e r s ; t h e y k n e w a m a n was m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n a n y t h i n g else."
P a m e l a H a r l o w was b o r n , a n d t h e n h e r y o u n g e r b r o t h e r J o n a t h a n . Today, t h e c h i l d r e n are m i d d l e - a g e d . P a m e l a m a k e s m e t a l sculptures i n O r e g o n , h e r w o r k s t r i k i n g a n d severe. J o n a t h a n i s a w o o d w o r k e r ; h e m a k e s , a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , tiny p i n e b o x e s that h e sells t o craft stores: " B o x e s , " h e s a y s —
S O M E T H I N G WAS N O T g o i n g w e l l . S o m e t h i n g b a d was h a p p e n i n g . A c l o t h m o t h e r was j u s t as g o o d as a real m o t h e r ; t o u c h was c e n t r a l t o t h e p r i m a t e h e a r t , a n d y e t , h e r e i t was: O v e r t h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r H a r l o w n o t i c e d t h e c l o t h - m o t h e r e d m o n k e y s w e r e n o t t h r i v i n g — this, after h e had m a d e s u c h a b o l d p r o n o u n c e m e n t i n front o f all his p e e r s . W h e n h e t o o k t h e c l o t h - m o t h e r e d m o n k e y s o u t t o play and m a t e , t h e y w e r e v i o l e n t l y a n t i s o c i a l . T h e females a t t a c k e d t h e males a n d k n e w n o t h i n g a b o u t c o r r e c t s e x u a l p o s t u r i n g . S o m e o f t h e c l o t h - m o t h e r e d m o n k e y s b e g a n t o display a u t i s t i c - l i k e features, r o c k - i n g and b i t i n g t h e m s e l v e s , sores b l o s s o m i n g o p e n o n t h e i r b l a c k a r m s , t h e b l o o d r i s i n g u p t h r o u g h t h e fur like b r i g h t pulp. I n f e c t i o n s set in. O n e c l o t h - m o t h e r e d m o n k e y c h e w e d o f f its e n t i r e h a n d . S o m e t h i n g , n o w h e saw, s o m e t h i n g had g o n e terribly, t e r r i b l y w r o n g .
" O f c o u r s e h e was d i s a p p o i n t e d , " says H a r l o w ' s b i o g r a p h e r , D e b o r a h B l u m . " H e t h o u g h t h e ' d i s o l a t e d t h e o n e v a r i a b l e essential t o m o t h e r i n g , t o u c h , a n d t h a t this was a t r a v e l i n g v a r i a b l e , s o t o speak; a n y o n e c o u l d p r o v i d e it, a n d h e ' d m a d e t h a t a n n o u n c e m e n t p u b l i c , a n d t h e n , o v e r t h e n e x t year, h e saw his m o n k e y s g e t v e r y f u c k e d up." A New York Times r e p o r t e r c a m e o u t to M a d i s o n to do a f o l l o w - u p o n t h e soft m o t h e r s u r r o g a t e a n d H a r l o w l e d h i m t o his lab, w h e r e a t r o o p o f r o c k i n g , h e a d - b a n g i n g m a c a q u e s sat i n c a g e s , e a t i n g o f f t h e i r f i n g e r s . " I a d m i t it," said H a r l o w . " I h a v e m a d e a m i s t a k e . " L e n R o s e n b l u m , o n e o f H a r l o w ' s students a t t h e t i m e a n d n o w a r e n o w n e d m o n k e y r e s e a r c h e r i n his o w n r i g h t , says, " S o w e c a m e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e r e w e r e o t h e r variables t o m o t h e r i n g ; i t w a s n ' t j u s t t o u c h , and i t wasn't j u s t face. W e h y p o t h e s i z e d i t h a d s o m e t h i n g t o d o w i t h m o t i o n t o o . W e m a d e a s u r r o g a t e that c o u l d r o c k , and t h e b a b i e s w e r e a l m o s t n o r m a l t h e n , n o t c o m p l e t e l y , b u t a l m o s t . W e t h e n t r i e d a r o c k i n g s u r r o g a t e w i t h o n e h a l f h o u r a day w h e n t h e b a b y c o u l d play w i t h a live m o n k e y and that p r o d u c e d a n a b s o l u t e l y n o r - mal k i d . W h a t this m e a n s i s that t h e r e are t h r e e variables t o l o v e — t o u c h , m o t i o n , and p l a y — a n d i f y o u c a n supply all o f t h o s e , y o u are m e e t i n g a p r i m a t e ' s n e e d s . "
capabilities; and it is possible in the foreseeable future that neonatal nursing will n o t be regarded as a necessity, but as a luxury, a form of conspicuous c o n s u m p t i o n , limited perhaps to the upper classes. B u t whatever course history may take, it is c o m f o r t i n g to k n o w that we are n o w in c o n t a c t with the nature of love.
I i m a g i n e a m o m e n t o f s t u n n e d s i l e n c e , t h e n t h u n d e r o u s applause. T h e lights flicker o n . H a r l o w holds up his hands: No m o r e . Please more. M o r e was t o c o m e . H a r l o w had released research that effectively s h o w e d a c l o t h surrogate m o t h e r was m o r e i m p o r t a n t than a nursing m o t h e r a n d c o u l d stand in j u s t as well as t h e real m o t h e r , for t h e infants c a m e t o " l o v e " t h e i r b u n t i n g a n d appeared t o m a t u r e well i n h e r p r e s - e n c e , playing a n d e x p l o r i n g . S o o n after that s p e e c h , t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f W i s c o n s i n at M a d i s o n put o u t a press release: " M o t h e r h o o d O b s o l e t e , " i t a n n o u n c e d . T h e p o p u l a r press f o l l o w e d . A n d H a r l o w ? W e l l , his c a r e e r leapt up, or crossed over, from t h e professional realm i n t o t h e culture at large. He was on To Tell the Truth, a n d C B S m a d e a d o c u m e n - tary o f his w o r k , narrated b y C h a r l e s C o l l i n g w o o d . T h e essential m e s - sage was m u r k y i n its m e a n i n g for w o m e n : y o u r babies d o n ' t n e e d y o u , o n t h e o n e hand; g o o u t and g e t f r e e , o n t h e o t h e r . I t was a feminist p u t - d o w n , a m i x e d - u p , snarled, multilayered missive that o o z e d b o t h love a n d l o n g i n g , a p o t e n t c o m b i n a t i o n .
H a r l o w h a d t w o m o r e c h i l d r e n w i t h his n e w w i f e . P e g g y h a d a n a d v a n c e d d e g r e e i n p s y c h o l o g y a n d , like C l a r a , s h e t o o d r o p p e d o u t o f t h e w o r k f o r c e t o raise h e r b a b i e s . H a r l o w i s q u o t e d saying, later i n his life, " B o t h m y w i v e s h a d t h e g o o d sense n o t t o b e w o m e n ' s l i b - b e r s ; t h e y k n e w a m a n was m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n a n y t h i n g else."
P a m e l a H a r l o w was b o r n , a n d t h e n h e r y o u n g e r b r o t h e r J o n a t h a n . Today, t h e c h i l d r e n are m i d d l e - a g e d . P a m e l a m a k e s m e t a l sculptures i n O r e g o n , h e r w o r k s t r i k i n g a n d severe. J o n a t h a n i s a w o o d w o r k e r ; h e m a k e s , a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , t i n y p i n e b o x e s that h e sells t o craft stores: " B o x e s , " h e s a y s —
S O M E T H I N G WAS N O T g o i n g w e l l . S o m e t h i n g b a d was h a p p e n i n g . A c l o t h m o t h e r was j u s t as g o o d as a real m o t h e r ; t o u c h was c e n t r a l t o t h e p r i m a t e h e a r t , a n d y e t , h e r e i t was: O v e r t h e f o l l o w i n g year H a r l o w n o t i c e d t h e c l o t h - m o t h e r e d m o n k e y s w e r e n o t t h r i v i n g — this, after h e h a d m a d e s u c h a b o l d p r o n o u n c e m e n t i n front o f all his p e e r s . W h e n h e t o o k t h e c l o t h - m o t h e r e d m o n k e y s o u t t o play a n d m a t e , t h e y w e r e v i o l e n t l y a n t i s o c i a l . T h e females a t t a c k e d t h e m a l e s a n d k n e w n o t h i n g a b o u t c o r r e c t s e x u a l p o s t u r i n g . S o m e o f t h e c l o t h - m o t h e r e d m o n k e y s b e g a n t o display a u t i s t i c - l i k e features, r o c k - i n g a n d b i t i n g t h e m s e l v e s , sores b l o s s o m i n g o p e n o n t h e i r b l a c k a r m s , t h e b l o o d rising u p t h r o u g h t h e fur like b r i g h t pulp. I n f e c t i o n s set in. O n e c l o t h - m o t h e r e d m o n k e y c h e w e d o f f its e n t i r e h a n d . S o m e t h i n g , n o w h e saw, s o m e t h i n g had g o n e terribly, t e r r i b l y w r o n g .
" O f c o u r s e h e was d i s a p p o i n t e d , " says H a r l o w ' s b i o g r a p h e r , D e b o r a h B l u m . " H e t h o u g h t h e ' d i s o l a t e d t h e o n e v a r i a b l e essential t o m o t h e r i n g , t o u c h , a n d t h a t this was a t r a v e l i n g v a r i a b l e , s o t o speak; a n y o n e c o u l d p r o v i d e it, a n d h e ' d m a d e t h a t a n n o u n c e m e n t p u b l i c , a n d t h e n , o v e r t h e n e x t year, h e saw his m o n k e y s g e t v e r y f u c k e d up." A NewYork Times r e p o r t e r c a m e o u t to M a d i s o n to do a f o l l o w - u p o n t h e soft m o t h e r s u r r o g a t e a n d H a r l o w l e d h i m t o his lab, w h e r e a t r o o p o f r o c k i n g , h e a d - b a n g i n g m a c a q u e s sat i n c a g e s , e a t i n g o f f t h e i r f i n g e r s . " I a d m i t it," said H a r l o w . " I h a v e m a d e a m i s t a k e . " L e n R o s e n b l u m , o n e o f H a r l o w ' s students a t t h e t i m e a n d n o w a r e n o w n e d m o n k e y r e s e a r c h e r i n his o w n r i g h t , says, " S o w e c a m e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e r e w e r e o t h e r variables t o m o t h e r i n g ; i t w a s n ' t j u s t t o u c h , and i t wasn't j u s t face. W e h y p o t h e s i z e d i t h a d s o m e t h i n g t o d o w i t h m o t i o n t o o . W e m a d e a s u r r o g a t e that c o u l d r o c k , a n d t h e b a b i e s w e r e a l m o s t n o r m a l t h e n , n o t c o m p l e t e l y , b u t a l m o s t . W e t h e n t r i e d a r o c k i n g s u r r o g a t e w i t h o n e h a l f h o u r a day w h e n t h e b a b y c o u l d play w i t h a live m o n k e y and that p r o d u c e d a n a b s o l u t e l y n o r - mal k i d . W h a t this m e a n s i s that t h e r e are t h r e e variables t o l o v e — t o u c h , m o t i o n , a n d p l a y — a n d i f y o u c a n supply all o f t h o s e , y o u are m e e t i n g a p r i m a t e ' s n e e d s . "
R o s e n b l u m g o e s o n t o repeat that " t h e k i d s " o n l y n e e d e d o n e h a l f h o u r a day of play w i t h a live m o n k e y . "It's a m a z i n g , " says R o s e n b l u m , "it's a m a z i n g h o w little o u r n e r v o u s system n e e d s i n o r d e r t o t u r n o u t n o r m a l . "
I n s o m e respects I ' m glad t o h e a r this. I i n t e r p r e t t h e s e results t o m e a n : it's i n c r e d i b l y hard to m e s s up y o u r c h i l d . A little j i g g l e , a soft sweater, a n d o n l y t h i r t y m i n u t e s o f actual p r i m a t e i n t e r a c t i o n . A n y m o t h e r c a n d o this: lazy, w o r k i n g , w i r e d , i r o n — w e c a n d o it! H a r l o w said w e c a n .
B u t why, i f H a r l o w ' s findings are s e e m i n g l y s o reassuring, s o all a b o u t love, w h y d o t h e y l o d g e i n t h e g u t l i k e o n e o f his e x p e r i m e n - tal spikes? W h y , i n e x p l o r i n g r e s e a r c h a b o u t a f f e c t i o n , d o w e shiver t h r o u g h t h e results?
A n d it's n o t j u s t m e o r y o u . It's H a r l o w h i m s e l f . H e ' s s h i v e r i n g . H e ' s h a v i n g affairs a g a i n — h e c a n n o t b e faithful t o o n e w o m a n — a n d n o w , m a y b e a s h e discovers that t h e s o f t - m o t h e r e d m o n k e y s are a c t u - ally autistic, h e b e g i n s t o d r i n k m o r e heavily. D a y s are s o s h o r t o u t i n W i s c o n s i n , early e v e n i n g b l o t t i n g o u t w h a t little l i g h t t h e r e is, e x c e p t for t h e y e l l o w g l e a m i n t h e s h o t glass. H a r l o w felt t r e m e n d o u s , t r e m e n d o u s pressure. H e felt t h e applause o f his o r i g i n a l findings a n d h e h a d t o k e e p i t up. H e s c r a m b l e d , a n d b e t w e e n 1 9 5 8 a n d 1 9 6 2 , h e p u b l i s h e d m u l t i p l e p a p e r s . H e b r a v e l y p u b l i s h e d t h e fact that his s u r r o g a t e - r a i s e d m o n k e y c h i l d r e n w e r e e m o t i o n a l l y d i s t u r b e d , a n d f r o m t h e r e h e w e n t o n t o identify t h e variables essential t o a v o i d i n g this f a t e — m o t i o n a n d a d o l l o p o f live p l a y — u s i n g s c o r e s o f infant m a c a q u e s t o p r o v e his p o i n t s .
" H a r r y always h a d t o t o p h i m s e l f , " says H e l e n L e R o y , his assistant. " H e was always l o o k i n g for t h e n e x t p e a k t o c o n q u e r . " L i k e o t h e r s o f similar d i s p o s i t i o n , h e c o n q u e r e d his p e a k s w i t h a b l a d d e r o f w i n e , a p e n p o i s e d , a d o - b e t t e r d e m o n i n t h e b a c k g r o u n d . H e n e v e r lost his lisp. A n n e L a n d e r s b e g a n t o w r i t e a b o u t h i m i n h e r a d v i c e - t o - m o t h e r s c o l u m n . W h a t w o u l d his n e x t e x p e r i m e n t b e ? H i s w i f e c a m e d o w n w i t h breast c a n c e r , t h e t a p e s t r y o f m i l k d u c t s infil- t r a t e d — c a r c i n o m a — a s i c k l y d i s c h a r g e f r o m h e r n i p p l e s . S h e h a d a
f e w years left t o live. H a r l o w w o r k e d harder. W h e r e c o u l d h e rest his h e a d ? T h e m o t h e r l e s s m o n k e y s lost t h e i r m i n d s , c h a t t e r e d madly. H i s p u b l i s h e d , p o w e r f u l r e s e a r c h m a d e its w a y i n t o b a b y c a r e p r o d u c t s — m o s t n o t a b l y t h e sling a n d t h e S n u g l i , w h i c h have a d d e d w a r m t h t o t h e ways w e p a r e n t infants. W i l l i a m S e a r s , t h e f a m o u s a t t a c h m e n t p a r e n t i n g a d v o c a t e , a p e d i a t r i c i a n w h o p r e a c h e s s l e e p i n g w i t h y o u r b a b i e s , k e e p i n g t h e m c l o s e a t all t i m e s , i s a H a r l o w - m a d e m a n , w h e t h e r h e k n o w s i t o r n o t . O r p h a n a g e s , s o c i a l s e r v i c e a g e n c i e s , t h e b i r t h i n g i n d u s t r y all h a d c r i t i c a l p o l i c i e s a l t e r e d b a s e d i n part o n H a r l o w ' s findings. T h a n k s i n part t o H a r l o w , d o c t o r s n o w k n o w t o p l a c e a n e w b o r n d i r e c t l y o n its m o t h e r ' s b e l l y after b i r t h . A l s o t h a n k s i n part t o H a r l o w , w o r k e r s i n o r p h a n a g e s k n o w it's n o t e n o u g h t o p r o p a b o t t l e ; t h e f o u n d l i n g m u s t b e h e l d , r o c k e d , s e e , s m i l e . T h a n k s t o H a r l o w a n d his c o l l e a g u e s i n t h e study o f a t t a c h m e n t , w e have b e e n h u m a n i z e d — w e possess a n e n t i r e s c i e n c e o f t o u c h , a n d s o m e o f this c a m e f r o m cruelty. T h e r e ' s t h e p a r a d o x . C A N C E R IS A L W A Y S b a d , b u t i n t h e 1 9 6 0 s it w a s w o r s e t h a n it is today. R a d i a t i o n c a m e i n h i g h volts a n d b e a m s , t h e b o d y m a r k e d w i t h a b l a c k - i n k e d X , b u l l ' s - e y e . C h e m o t h e r a p y was p r a c t i c a l l y p r i m i t i v e ; t h e doses, i n h u g e g r e e n c a u s t i c vials, w e r e m a i n l i n e d i n t o t h e a r m , s e n d i n g waves o f h e a t a n d n a u s e a t h r o u g h t h e b o d y H a r l o w and his w i f e w e n t several t i m e s a w e e k . I h o p e h e h e l d h e r h a n d . H e m u s t have s e e n t h e d o c t o r c l e a r i n g t h e s y r i n g e o f air, a g r a c e f u l arc o f w a t e r l a n d i n g l i k e a t e a r splash o n t h e t i l e d floor, a n d t h e n i n t o t h e vein, P e g g y l e a n i n g o v e r a b a s i n h e h e l d f o r h e r , h e r s t o m a c h d e p o s i t - ing its c o n t e n t s i n a rush o f p u r e n a u s e a .
" T h o s e w e r e dark, dark years," says H a r l o w ' s s o n J o n a t h a n , w h o was e l e v e n w h e n his m o t h e r was d i a g n o s e d , s e v e n t e e n w h e n she died. P e g g y b e c a m e visibly m o r e a n d m o r e ill, t h e c a n c e r d o i n g its c a n c e r d a n c e , m o v i n g f r o m breast t o l u n g t o liver, t h e w o m a n t u r n - m g saffron yellow, h e r m o u t h p u l l e d b a c k i n a m a s k e d g r i m a c e , h e r t e e t h p e c u l i a r l y sharp l o o k i n g , m o n k e y t e e t h , m a d . T h i s i s h o w I
i m a g i n e it. I t m u s t have b e e n b a d , b e c a u s e d u r i n g that t i m e H a r l o w ' s already d a n g e r o u s d r i n k i n g t u r n e d w o r s e . S t u d e n t s recall h a v i n g t o stop b y t h e l o c a l b a r a t t h e e v e n i n g ' s e n d a n d s c o o p H a r l o w o f f t h e s t o o l t o drive h i m h o m e . C o l l e a g u e s say t h e r e w e r e m o r e than a f e w o c c a s i o n s w h e n , a t h o t e l c o n f e r e n c e s , t h e y ' d have t o p u t h i m t o b e d , his h e a v y h e a d s i n k i n g i n t o t h e s h e e t s .
Years w e n t b y and t h e o r i g i n a l s u r r o g a t e - r a i s e d m a c a q u e s g r e w o l d e r a n d older. T h e y did n o t k n o w h o w t o play o r m a t e . N o w , t h e females w e r e fertile, a d o l e s c e n c e k i c k i n g in, t h e follicles r i p e n i n g eggs. H a r l o w w a n t e d t o b r e e d t h e f e m a l e s b e c a u s e h e h a d a n e w idea, a n e w q u e s t i o n . W h a t k i n d s o f m o t h e r s w o u l d m o t h e r l e s s m o t h e r s m a k e ? T h e o n l y w a y t o tell was t o g e t t h e m p r e g n a n t . B u t d a m n b i t c h e s , t h e y w o u l d n ' t raise t h e i r tails a n d b e n d t h e i r h a i r y hips. H e t r i e d p u t t i n g , a s h e p u t it, v e r y e x p e r i e n c e d , o l d e r m a l e m o n k e y g e n - t l e m e n i n t o t h e c a g e s , b u t t h e females c l a w e d t h e i r faces. A t last h e devised w h a t h e c a l l e d " a rape r a c k , " w h e r e i n h e tied t h e females d o w n s o t h e m a l e s c o u l d m o u n t t h e m . I t was a successful d e v i c e , i n that t w e n t y o f t h e m o t h e r l e s s m o t h e r s w e r e i n s e m i n a t e d a n d gave b i r t h . I n a n a r t i c l e p u b l i s h e d i n 1 9 6 6 c a l l e d " M a t e r n a l B e h a v i o r o f R h e s u s M o n k e y s D e p r i v e d o f M o t h e r i n g a n d P e e r A s s o c i a t i o n s i n Infancy," H a r l o w r e p o r t e d his results. A p o r t i o n o f t h e r a p e - r a c k m o t h e r s k i l l e d t h e i r infants; o t h e r s w e r e indifferent; a f e w w e r e " a d e - quate." T h i s , again, i s powerful stuff, b u t I , for o n e , a m unsure w h e t h e r i t provides u s w i t h n e w k n o w l e d g e , o r s i m p l y c o n f i r m s w h a t w e all intuitively k n e w , a t t h e e x p e n s e o f m a n y m o n k e y s ' lives. R o g e r F o u t s feels s t r o n g l y that t h e i n f o r m a t i o n H a r l o w " d i s c o v - e r e d " i n his d e p r i v a t i o n e x p e r i m e n t s was n o t o n l y o b v i o u s b u t d e r i v - ative. " H a r l o w n e v e r r e f e r r e d t o D a v e n p o r t a n d R o g e r s , " F o u t s says. " B e f o r e H a r l o w , D a v e n p o r t a n d R o g e r s p u t c h i m p a n z e e s i n b o x e s a n d w h e n t h e y saw w h a t h a p p e n e d , t h e y n e v e r did i t again."
" T h e p r o b l e m w i t h H a r l o w , " says p r i m a t e r e s e a r c h e r L e n R o s e n b l u m , "is t h e way h e d e s c r i b e d t h i n g s . H e d i d i t t o g e t a rise o u t o f p e o p l e . " R o s e n b l u m g o e s o n t o tell this h a l f - a m u s i n g story: H a r l o w was a c c e p t i n g a n h o n o r b e f o r e a large c r o w d o f p s y c h o l o -
gists. I n t h e a u d i e n c e w e r e t h r e e n u n s , w h i t e habits, w i n g e d h e a d - p i e c e s , h e a v y c r u c i f i x e s o n c h a i n s . F r o m his p o s i t i o n a t t h e p o d i u m , H a r l o w saw t h e n u n s a n d t h e n p r o c e e d e d t o s h o w t h e a u d i e n c e p i c - tures o f t w o m o n k e y s c o p u l a t i n g . " H e l o o k e d d i r e c t l y a t t h e n u n s , " R o s e n b l u m says, c h u c k l i n g , " a n d a n n o u n c e d , ' H e r e i t is, t h e s e r m o n o n t h e m o u n t . ' " T h e n u n s , t h e y j u s t w i t h e r e d . T h e y sank straight i n t o t h e i r h a b i t s .
" I t was v i n t a g e H a r l o w , " R o s e n b l u m says. " H e always w a n t e d t o get a rise o u t o f p e o p l e . H e w o u l d n e v e r say ' t e r m i n a t e d . ' H e w o u l d say 'killed.' W h y c o u l d n ' t h e have c a l l e d t h e rape r a c k a restraining d e v i c e ? I f h e h a d , h e w o u l d n ' t have s u c h a m i x e d r e p u t a t i o n today."
It is clearly t r u e that H a r l o w p r e f e r r e d t h e d r a m a t i c , b u t I t h i n k R o s e n b l u m has i t w r o n g . T h e issue, after all, i s n o t w h a t w e call o u r d e v i c e s , b u t w h a t w e d o t o a n i m a l s w i t h t h e m . T h e a n i m a l rights m o v e m e n t was partly b o r n o u t o f H a r l o w ' s w o r k . E v e r y year, a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M a d i s o n P r i m a t e R e s e a r c h C e n t e r , t h e A n i m a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t has a d e m o n s t r a t i o n w h e r e t h e y sit shiva in t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h o u s a n d s o f stuffed K m a r t m o n k e y s . T h i s s e e m s absurd t o m e — t h e use o f t h e H e b r e w w o r d shiva, for " g r i e f , " t h e K m a r t a n i - mals. I t m a k e s r i d i c u l o u s s o m e t h i n g that i s n o t r i d i c u l o u s , a n d that s o m e t h i n g i s a q u e s t i o n : W h a t are p s y c h o l o g i s t s ' r i g h t s i n t h e use o f animals for r e s e a r c h ? H a r l o w c a n b e c r e d i t e d for f o m e n t i n g that q u e s t i o n straight t o t h e b o i l i n g surface o f a n i m a l s c i e n c e .
R O G E R F O U T S I S a research p s y c h o l o g i s t w h o i s also a n a n i m a l rights activist, a rare c o m b i n a t i o n . He lives in O r e g o n , in a t i n y m o u n t a i n o u s t o w n w h e r e a q u e o u s trees are always g r e e n and d e w e d w i t h drops o f rain, w h e r e t h e l a n d smells like leaves, m u l c h e d and r i c h . F o u t s spends m o s t o f his t i m e w i t h his g o o d f r i e n d and c h i m - panzee W a s h o u , w h o d r i n k s c o f f e e e v e r y m o r n i n g a n d likes t o play tag. O v e r t h e years, F o u t s has g r o w n f o n d o f t h e a n i m a l s h e studies, and c o u l d n e v e r h a r m t h e m for t h e sake o f s c i e n c e . F o u t s studies c h i m p a n z e e l a n g u a g e a c q u i s i t i o n , a n area o f i n q u i r y that does n o t
d e m a n d knives o r b l o o d . Says F o u t s , " A n y r e s e a r c h e r w h o i s w i l l i n g t o s a c r i f i c e his animals i s m o r a l l y q u e s t i o n a b l e . " W i l l i a m M a s o n , o n e o f H a r l o w ' s students i n t h e 1 9 6 0 s a n d n o w a p r i m a t e r e s e a r c h e r a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a a t D a v i s , says h e i s n o t a t all sure w h e t h e r t h e e n d s j u s t i f y t h e m e a n s . M a s o n c l a i m s h e has n e v e r q u i t e b e e n able to i n t e g r a t e his desires as an investigative s c i e n t i s t w o r k i n g on animals w i t h his p e r s o n a l m o r a l p r o c l i v i t i e s . I n o t h e r w o r d s , M a s o n feels it's w r o n g t o h u r t a n a n i m a l , b u t h e still c a n see t h e reasons for d o i n g so.
A n i m a l r i g h t s activists are n o t m o v e d b y e x p r e s s i o n s o f a m b i v a - l e n c e . T h e y are a f i e r c e , d e t e r m i n e d b u n c h w h o regularly c i t e H a r l o w in t h e i r literature as a fascist t o r t u r e r . M o v i n g b e y o n d t h e i n f l a m e d l a n g u a g e a n d i n t o t h e h e a r t o f t h e issues, a n i m a l rights activists c l a i m that t h e use o f a n i m a l s i n research delivers v e r y little valid i n f o r m a t i o n . T h e y are q u i c k t o c i t e t h e t h a l i d o m i d e fiasco. I n t h e 1 9 5 0 s t h a l i d o m i d e was t e s t e d o n a n i m a l s and s h o w e d n o t e r a t o - g e n i c effects, b u t w h e n h u m a n s t o o k it, b a b i e s w i t h s e r i o u s b i r t h defects w e r e b o r n . A l o n g these s a m e lines, t h e h u m a n i m m u n o d e f i - c i e n c y virus ( H I V ) a d m i n i s t e r e d t o c h i m p s for t h e p u r p o s e s o f s t u d y - i n g t h e disease p r o d u c e s n o s y m p t o m s w h a t s o e v e r ; p e n i c i l l i n i s t o x i c in g u i n e a pigs; aspirin causes b i r t h d e f e c t s in m i c e a n d rats a n d is v i r - u l e n t l y p o i s o n o u s t o cats. A s for m o n k e y s , w e l l , t h e y m a y b e a l o t like us, b u t t h e y are n o t c a r b o n c o p i e s , n o t b y a l o n g s h o t ; t h e b r a i n o f a rhesus m a c a q u e is o n e t e n t h as large as a h u m a n ' s , a n d it d e v e l o p s at a far faster clip. A b a b y rhesus m a c a q u e i s b o r n w i t h t w o thirds o f its b r a i n already adult-sized; a h u m a n infant's b r a i n is o n l y o n e f o u r t h its adult size. S o h o w far, i f a t all, c a n y o u g e n e r a l i z e f r o m o n e s p e c i e s t o a n o t h e r ? T h a t , o f c o u r s e , d e p e n d s o n w h o y o u ask. N o o n e w i l l d e n y that t h e m o n k e y is a m o d e l , a n d a m o d e l is an a p p r o x i m a t i o n of the d o m a i n it is a t t e m p t i n g to d e s c r i b e . B u t approximation—that's a tricky, m u r k y w o r d that slip-slides o n t h e page, swells a n d shrinks d e p e n d i n g o n w h o i n t e r p r e t s it.
A n i m a l r i g h t s activists like R o g e r F o u t s a n d A l e x P a c h e c h i o m i g h t say t h e p r i m a t e b r a i n is a p i s s - p o o r a p p r o x i m a t i o n and d o e s n ' t justify t h e s q u a l o r a n d pus a n d pain w e h e a p o n t h e animals o f l a b o r a t o r y
s c i e n c e . B u t s o m e o n e like S t u a r t Z o l a - M o r g a n , a w e l l - r e g a r d e d m e m o r y r e s e a r c h e r i n C a l i f o r n i a , o b v i o u s l y feels t h e m o n k e y b r a i n i s a treasure trove o f s e c r e t s that i l l u m i n a t e h o w t h e h u m a n m i n d m i g h t w o r k . Z o l a - M o r g a n p r o b e s t h e m o n k e y m i n d w i t h scalpel a n d shears s o a s t o l o c a t e t h e r e g i o n s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r r e c o l l e c t i o n , s i m p l e c r u d e r e c o l l e c t i o n l i k e p h o n e n u m b e r s a n d t h e l y r i c a l r e c o l l e c t i o n s that give s h a d o w a n d s h a p e t o o u r lives: t h e p i c n i c table, t h e c r e a m c h e e s e s a n d w i c h , t h e smell o f t h e o u r m o t h e r ' s m i n k c o a t .
Z o l a - M o r g a n ' s s u r g i c a l e x p l o r a t i o n s have d e e p e n e d o u r u n d e r - s t a n d i n g o f m e m o r y . T h e r e c a n b e n o q u e s t i o n a b o u t that. A n d m e m o r y i s c r u c i a l t o w h o w e are, a s e n s o u l e d p r i s m a t i c p e o p l e . A n d yet, t o a c h i e v e this k n o w l e d g e , Z o l a - M o r g a n m u s t a n e s t h e t i z e his m o n k e y p a t i e n t , t h e n w r a p a c o r d a r o u n d t h e n e c k t o c u t o f f all b l o o d supply t o t h e b r a i n , w a i t u n t i l t h e cells u n d e r g o a p o p t o s i s , a n d t h e n w a k e t h e m o n k e y u p t o study its ability t o r e c a l l . S o m e t i m e later, t h e m o n k e y i s " s a c r i f i c e d , " a n d its b r a i n e x a m i n e d f o r areas o f d a m a g e , b l i g h t e d , d e a d areas, l o b e s w h i t e w i t h scar a n d s t u m p .
" I t h i n k h u m a n life i s m o r e valuable t h a n a n i m a l life," says Z o l a - M o r g a n . I n a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h D e b o r a h B l u m , h e says, " W e have a real o b l i g a t i o n t o c a r e f o r t h e s e a n i m a l s w e l l . B u t i s m y son's life w o r t h m o r e t h a n a m o n k e y ' s life? I d o n ' t e v e n h a v e t o t h i n k a b o u t that answer."
I D O . I do have to t h i n k a b o u t that answer. It's n o t at all as c l e a r to m e that h u m a n life has s o m e i n t r i n s i c a l l y h i g h e r w o r t h — n o , n o t a s clear t o m e a t all. N o t w h e n I s e e a d o l p h i n a r c i n g o u t o f t h e w a t e r , b l o w i n g j e t s o f froth f r o m that h o l e i n its h e a d . N o t w h e n I s e e h o w , a s t h e earth's e n v i r o n m e n t c h a n g e s , t h e d e m i s e o f o n e s p e c i e s alters the n e x t , s o e v e n t h e algae i n t h e o c e a n w e m u s t r e s p e c t , f o r i t k e e p s us, q u i t e literally afloat. T h i s i s j u s t w h a t I t h i n k , r i g h t h e r e , r i g h t now, today, t h e birds i n t h e g u t t e r o f m y h o m e h a v i n g h a t c h e d a f e w noisy slick c h i c k s w i t h t h e i r b e a k s spayed o p e n . I a m d i s t u r b e d b y a c u f f s t r a n g l i n g a m o n k e y ' s n e c k . I a m d i s t u r b e d , o f c o u r s e , b y t h e I r o n
M a i d e n , t h e r a p e r a c k , d e s p i t e t h e k n o w l e d g e i t gave u s — a n d H a r l o w , p e r h a p s h e was d i s t u r b e d a s w e l l . F o r all his p r o n o u n c e m e n t s a b o u t h o w h e didn't c a r e for his m o n k e y s a n d didn't like a n i m a l s , s o m e o f his students suggest that t h e n a t u r e o f his w o r k b e g a n t o really b o t h e r h i m . C e r t a i n l y , a s t h e years w e n t o n , a n d t h e d r i n k i n g i n c r e a s e d , s o m e t h i n g — m a n y t h i n g s — w e r e b o t h e r i n g h i m .
I n 1 9 7 0 H a r l o w ' s w i f e P e g g y d i e d . A r o u n d t h e s a m e t i m e , h e w o n t h e N a t i o n a l M e d a l o f S c i e n c e A w a r d . H i s eyes w e r e b l a n k a n d h o o d e d . H i s m o u t h was a n a n e m i c p i n k , t h e barest slit for a s m i l e . H e said t o H e l e n L e R o y o n t h e e v e o f a c c e p t i n g his m e d a l , " N o w I have n o t h i n g left t o strive for." T h i n g s t u r n e d p r e c i p i t o u s l y w o r s e . W i t h o u t his w i f e , H a r l o w c o u l d n o t c o o k o r c l e a n o r m a k e his b e d o r g e t o u t o f b e d . H e felt h e h a d r e a c h e d t h e p i n n a c l e o f his c a r e e r , that h e was s t a n d i n g o n t h e farthest, finest p e a k , l o o k i n g o u t , a n d t h e r e was n o w h e r e t o g o b u t d o w n . " I h a d t o c o o k for m y father," says J o n a t h a n . " H e was helpless w i t h o u t m y m o t h e r . " H a r l o w d r a g g e d his w a y i n t o his lab, all t h o s e c a g e s , s t a c k e d o n e o n t o p o f t h e o t h e r , all t h o s e b l a n d bars a n d t h e w h i t e c l o u d s i n t h e sky a n d t h e scat. T h e scat. H e was j u s t s o tired. T h e rape r a c k . T h e scat. T h e c r i e s o f despair a n d t h e c h i c k e n - w i r e s u r r o g a t e a n d t h e t e r r y c l o t h , w h i c h m a y have s e e m e d t e r r i b l e t o h i m j u s t t h e n , its n u b b l y surface l i k e sandpaper, i r r i t a t i n g t h e s k i n , r u b it.
H e was s o tired t h e n , H a r l o w w a s . H e b u r i e d his w i f e Peggy. A t s c h o o l , t a l k i n g t o students, this i n c r e d i b l e , forceful fatigue w o u l d c o m e o v e r h i m , a n d h e ' d j u s t have t o sleep. S o h e did. I n t h e m i d d l e o f a c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h a s t u d e n t , H a r l o w started t o p u t his h e a d d o w n on his desk a n d take a nap. It was so easy to s l e e p on his desk! H e j u s t c l o s e d his eyes a n d let t h e i r t a l k i n g lull h i m .
H e was n o t w e l l . H i s w i f e h a d h a d c a n c e r o f t h e breast; H a r l o w , i t s e e m e d , h a d c a n c e r o f t h e m i n d . I t b e c a m e o b v i o u s t o e v e r y o n e that h e was b r e a k i n g d o w n a n d i n d e s p e r a t e n e e d o f repair. I n M a r c h o f that year, H a r r y H a r l o w w e n t o f f t o t h e M a y o C l i n i c i n M i n n e s o t a , w h e r e h e s u b m i t t e d t o a series o f e l e c t r o s h o c k t r e a t m e n t s , n o w h e t h e a n i m a l strapped d o w n o n t h e table, his h e a d shaved, g e l applied
h e r e a n d t h e r e , dab i t o n t h e t e m p l e s , s m e a r i t o v e r t h e eyes, his b o d y n o l o n g e r his. Today, e l e c t r o s h o c k t h e r a p y i s s t r e a m l i n e d a n d t o n e d ; b a c k t h e n i t was all A C , blasts o f c u r r e n t s q u i g g l i n g t h r o u g h t h e w i r e s , i g n i t i n g t h e sluggish n e u r o n s . H e r e was H a r l o w , a n e s t h e t i z e d , s c r u b b e d , s u c c u m b i n g t o a p r o c e d u r e that c o u l d b e c a l l e d e x p e r i - m e n t a l , f o r n o o n e k n e w w h y i t w o r k e d o r h o w , o r w h e n , o r if. H i s b o d y j e r k e d a h u n d r e d t i m e s . H e w o k e u p w i t h c o t t o n a n d c l o u d s i n his m o u t h , a n d n o m e m o r y , a n d s o m e w h e r e his w i f e w a l k e d w i t h his m o t h e r i n a m i d w e s t e r n t o w n , a n d w i n g e d beasts w e r e i n t h e sky.
T H E N H E L E F T . T h e t r e a t m e n t s w e r e over. H e w e n t b a c k t o M a d i s o n , b u t p e o p l e said h e was n e v e r t h e s a m e a g a i n . H e was p r o - n o u n c e d " r e c o v e r e d , " b u t h e talked a little s l o w e r a n d d i d n ' t m a k e w i s e c r a c k s a n d b e c a m e t h e slightest b i t softer i n his i n t e r a c t i o n s . W i t h o u t a w i f e , h e was lost. H e c a l l e d C l a r a M e a r s , o u t i n h e r trailer i n A r i z o n a . " C o m e b a c k , " h e said. T h e years h a d b e e n hard f o r C l a r a , t o o . S h e had h a d a s o n w h o d r o w n e d i n a r i v e r o u t s i d e t h e trailer h o m e . H e r s e c o n d h u s b a n d h a d also d i e d . W i d o w a n d w i d o w e r j o i n e d t o g e t h e r a n d w a l k e d t h e aisle o n c e m o r e , r e m a r r i e d . A n d T e r m a n ? W h a t did h e t h i n k ? H i s gifted c h i l d r e n , w i t h s u c h p r o m i s e , all o f t h e m w i t h s u c h h i g h I Q s , t h e y h a d a m o u n t e d t o v e r y little. B u t that's a n o t h e r story. W e are a l m o s t d o n e . H a r l o w a n d C l a r a , l o o p d e l o o p . B a c k a t t h e b e g i n n i n g , e x c e p t for this: H a r l o w ' s interests h a d shifted slightly. H e n o l o n g e r w a n t e d t o study m a t e r n a l d e p r i v a t i o n . I n t h e 1 9 6 0 s t h e r e was the rise o f b i o l o g i c a l p s y c h i a t r y a n d t h e h o p e that m e d i c a t i o n s m i g h t alleviate m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n s . T h a t interested Harlow. Possibly h e h o p e d i f h e had a n o t h e r b o u t o f depression, h e c o u l d g e t a pill and n o t a s h o c k . Possibly h e was already o n s o m e pills, and t h e y w e r e o n l y h a l f helpful. I n any case, h e w a n t e d t o k n o w w h a t caused depression a n d w h a t c u r e d it, so, o n c e again, h e t u r n e d t o his rhesus m a c a q u e s .
H e b u i l t a b l a c k i s o l a t i o n c h a m b e r i n w h i c h a n a n i m a l was h u n g upside d o w n f o r u p t o t w o years, u n a b l e t o m o v e o r s e e t h e w o r l d ,
fed t h r o u g h a g r i d a t t h e b o t t o m o f t h e V - s h a p e d d e v i c e . T h i s H a r l o w c a l l e d " t h e w e l l o f despair." I n d e e d , i t was successful i n c r e a t - i n g a p r i m a t e m o d e l o f m e n t a l illness. T h e a n i m a l s , o n c e r e m o v e d , after m o n t h s o r years, w e r e s h a t t e r e d a n d p s y c h o t i c . N o t h i n g H a r l o w did c o u l d b r i n g t h e m b a c k . T h e r e a p p e a r e d t o b e n o c u r e . N o w a y t o c o n t a c t , t o c o m f o r t . I n t h e e n d , H a r l o w d i e d o f P a r k i n s o n ' s disease. H e c o u l d n o t stop s h a k i n g .
E V E R Y W H E R E I C O t h e r e are a n i m a l s . A squirrel leaps from w i r e t o w i r e . Slugs, h u g e and i n d e c e n t , c r a w l o u t o f t h e garden and laze o n t h e c o n c r e t e steps. T o u c h t h e m , and y o u r f i n g e r s are s t i c k y w i t h g e l . C a t s cry. A w h i t e d o g finds its w a y i n t o o u r yard and sits t h e r e , s p h i n x - like, l i c k i n g its p i n k paws. I w o u l d like to g e t a m o n k e y , b u t my h u s - b a n d says this is a b a d idea. He w o r k s in a lab a n d says m o n k e y s s m e l l . I say, p u t t i n g d o w n a b o o k of H a r l o w ' s s e l e c t e d papers, From Learning t o Love,"You have n o idea h o w m u c h I L O V E m o n k e y s , " and I ' m s u r - prised t o h e a r real e m o t i o n , i f n o t passion i n m y v o i c e .
" A r e y o u t u r n i n g i n t o a n a n i m a l a c t i v i s t ? " h e asks.
" I ' l l tell y o u , " I say, " a f t e r r e a d i n g w h a t this m a n did to t h o s e a n i - mals, a n d w h a t w e d o t o m o n k e y s today, i n f e c t t h e m w i t h H I V , g i v e t h e m b r a i n t u m o r s , w h e n t h e y ' r e s o o b v i o u s l y o u r c o u s i n s , I'll tell y o u I ' m against it. It's w r o n g . H a r l o w was w r o n g . All t h e m o n k e y r e s e a r c h h e s p a w n e d i s w r o n g . "
" S o y o u ' r e t e l l i n g m e , " h e says, " t h a t i f y o u h a d t o c h o o s e b e t w e e n a c u r e for C l a r a , i f she g o t s i c k , a n d a m o n k e y ' s life, y o u ' d c h o o s e t h e m o n k e y o v e r y o u r k i d ? "
I k n e w i t was g o i n g t o c o m e t o t h i s . It's w h a t H a r l o w w o u l d h a v e said, w h a t Z o l a - M o r g a n d o e s say: o u r h u m a n lives are i n t r i n s i - cally m o r e v a l u a b l e ; m o n k e y s t u d i e s y i e l d i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t h e l p s t h o s e lives.
" O f c o u r s e I'd c h o o s e C l a r a , " I say slowly, " b u t that's b e c a u s e n i n e t y - n i n e p e r c e n t o f m e i s a m o n k e y , a n d a n y m o n k e y w o u l d
c h o o s e its c h i l d . " B u t w h a t I c a n ' t q u i t e e x p l a i n t o h i m i s that w h i l e n i n e t y - n i n e p e r c e n t o f m e m a y b e i n s t i n c t , o r a n i m a l i m p u l s e , o r m a m m a l i a n l o v e , there's that o n e p e r c e n t o f m e that's n o t f r o m t h e forests, a n d this f r a g m e n t o f s e l f c a n s e e that t o h u r t o n e i s s o m e h o w , s o m e w h e r e , t o h u r t all. T h i s o n e p e r c e n t i s m a y b e w h e r e m y r e a s o n resides, a n d m y r e a s o n tells m e i t i s rarely d e f e n s i b l e t o c a u s e suffer- i n g t o s e n t i e n t b e i n g s , e s p e c i a l l y i f that data c a n b e e x t r a p o l a t e d b y o t h e r m e a n s .
W h a t , I w o n d e r , i s t h e o n e p e r c e n t o f u s that's n o t c h i m p a n z e e , t h e t w o p e r c e n t that's n o t o r a n g u t a n , t h e m e r e six p e r c e n t that's n o t r h e - sus m a c a q u e ? I'd l i k e to k n o w . Is that w h e r e o u r spirit resides? Is that a sliver o f a n g e l , o r g o d , m a n d a t i n g u s t o see t h e forest for t h e trees, t h e w h o l e h u g e i n t e r r e l a t e d tapestry o f life? It's s u c h a small p e r c e n t - age, s o hard t o live t h e r e , w h e r e w e are h u m a n , a n d thus r e s p o n s i b l e . Today, I go to a p r i m a t e lab. H a r l o w ' s p r i m a t e lab is still up a n d r u n n i n g , h o u s i n g o v e r t w o t h o u s a n d m o n k e y s i n W i s c o n s i n . I g o t o a n o t h e r lab, l o c a t e d i n M a s s a c h u s e t t s . I w o n ' t d e s c r i b e it; w e ' v e h e a r d e n o u g h . H e r e i s w h e r e c u r e a n d death a n d s h e e r d i s c o v e r y sit side b y side. T h e c a g e s are s t a c k e d o n e o v e r t h e o t h e r , w i t h t h e a n i m a l s i n pairs inside. I t smells o f c l e a n i n g s o l u t i o n a n d d o g treats. I k n e e l d o w n n e x t t o a c a g e a n d slip m y h a n d s b e t w e e n t h e bars, a n d a p r i - m a t e c o m e s u p t o m e , m o u t h s m e l i k e a h o r s e m i g h t m o u t h m y p a l m , lips all dry a n d velvety. I recall r e a d i n g that o n c e H a r l o w was w o r k i n g a t n i g h t a m o n g his m o n k e y s , a n d h e a c c i d e n t a l l y l o c k e d h i m s e l f inside o n e o f t h e c a g e s . F o r h o u r s a n d h o u r s h e sat t h e r e a n d c o u l d n ' t get o u t . T h e W i s c o n s i n sky was dark; i n t h e d i s t a n c e h e heard revelers. " H e l p , " h e s h o u t e d f r o m b e h i n d t h e bars. " H e l p help." A t last s o m e o n e heard, b u t b y t h e n H a r l o w was c o l d , a n d scared.
" C a n I h o l d a m o n k e y ? " I ask my g u i d e . He lets m e , a n d I c a n ' t b e l i e v e h o w l u c k y I a m , t o h o l d a m o n k e y , t o h o l d h u m a n history, t h e P l e i s t o c e n e era, t h e N e o l i t h i c era, t h e dinosaurs l o n g b e f o r e that, r o a m i n g flat fields a n d b r i n e . I g a t h e r t h e little b r o w n ball o f fur a n d m u s c l e up i n t o my a r m s . It is a y o u n g o n e . It w r a p s its i n c r e d i b l e m u s t y a r m s a r o u n d my n e c k . Its h e a r t is b e a t i n g fast; it is scared.
S c a r e d o f m e ? S c a r e d o f c a p t i v i t y ? S c a r e d o f b e i n g free? " S h h h , " I say t o t h e m o n k e y , m y m o n k e y , a n d I l o o k i n t o its w r i n k l e d face, a n o l d m a n , a baby, t h e saddest, w e t t e s t eyes, a n d s u d d e n l y I feel it is H a r l o w h i m s e l f I am h o l d i n g . T h i s is funny to m e — H a r l o w r e i n c a r n a t e d as a m o n k e y , i n m y a r m s r i g h t n o w — i t ' s f u n n y a n d it's n o t . I s t r o k e t h e hard h e a d . I l o o k a t t h e lifelines o n t h e p a l m . T h e y w i n d b a c k t o W i s c o n s i n , t o a small h o u s e i n I o w a , t o m a n y drives a n d desires. T h e lines are p i n k a n d t a n g l e d . T h e a n i m a l shivers i n m y a r m s . " J u s t rest," I say, a n d I try to b r i n g h i m c l o s e , as c l o s e as I c a n .