Margaret K. Harlow

Nuclear family apparatus

The nuclear family apparatus was designed to provide a living arrangement that included fathers as well as other family members. Accordingly, it required generous dimensions so as not to cramp the males and durable materials that could withstand their strength. The apparatus described in this paper is relatively large, strong, easy to keep clean, and safe in its construction. It provides quarters for four rhesus monkey families—the parents and their offspring. Parents are confined to living cages at the rear and ends, but their young may divide their time between living cages and large play areas equipped with motor apparatus.

Infantile sexuality in monkeys.

Developmental patterns of sexuality for young male and female rhesus monkeys are illustrated. These patterns show oral, anal, and phallic components, in a manner reminiscent of Freuds postulated stages of human psychosexual development. Unequivocal sex differences exist at early ages. Significantly more pelvic thrusting is demonstrated by young males. Infantile female monkeys rarely exhibit male-type behavior, and males rarely exhibit responses of females. “Inappropriate” sexual posturing is seen in young monkeys prior to effective adult-type genital approximation. This is easily demonstrated by photographs taken during monkey “play periods.” Evidence is presented that a biological power exists which underlies a monkeys reproductive ends, independent of “training.” These findings may bear significance with respect to human sexuality.

THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the development of primate love throughout its entire sequential course—from the mother–infant stage of pious, proper propinquity throughout the adult stage of seasoned, salacious, seductive success. For over a decade, the mechanisms by which monkeys reach normal social and sexual development have been studied. These mechanisms are the maturation and integration of the various affectional systems: mother love, infant love, age-mate or peer love, heterosexual love, and paternal love. As all kinds of love involve social relationships, their normal development can be achieved only by the action and interaction of complex channels of communication. Although auditory and visual communication channels play an important role in the formation and an enormous role in the maintenance of the affectional responses that bind the infant monkey to the mother, the basic early information is transmitted by way of cutaneous and proprioceptive channels. The chapter also discusses the language of basic trust, play, and lust.