In their classic studies regarding development, Harry Harlow, Konrad Lorenz, and Mary Ainsworth concluded information about development regarding body contact, familiarity, and attachment styles. Harry Harlow's experiments with wire and cloth rhesus monkeys overturn the previously held belief that attachment was based on satisfaction of nourishment needs. His findings implied that most of our emotional communication with our parents occurs via touch, providing a secure base. His research contradicted the common belief that bodily contact would spoil children. He concluded that the stimulation and reassurance derived from the physical touch of a parent or caregiver play a key role in developing healthy physical growth and normal socialization.
Mary Ainsworth's experiments with the "strange situation" design allowed her to study attachment differences by observing attachment relationships between infants and mothers. Her study concluded with the discovery of two different forms of attachment: secure and insecure; Secure attachment entailing that a child feels comfortable exploring their surroundings when their mother is present, become distressed when she leaves, and clingy when she returns, and Insecure attachment entailing that children are less likely to explore their surroundings when their mother is present, clinging to her rather than exploring, and either cry and remain clinging or are indifferent to when she leaves and returns. Her study concluded that securely attached children develop to be well adjusted, form successful social relationships, and perform better at school, while insecurely attached children develop to form shallow relationships, appear withdrawn, and sometimes display a strong need for affection.
Konrad Lorenz's comparative study of animal behavior (including humans) and their natural surroundings contributed to the explanation of how attachment bonds are formed in developing children. His findings regarding imprinting and aggression implies that we form attachments to what we know and is familiar within our surroundings/environment, including traditions, movies, music, etc. His study also concluded that the mechanism inhibiting aggression works less well in humans than among other species.
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