Social Behaviors and Monkeys

American psychologist, Harry Harlow, conducted a famous experiment that demonstrated the importance of caregiving and companionship in the social development of monkeys. For this assignment, watch this video about the Harlow monkey experiment.

Next, observe the social behavior of monkeys by watching the monkey exhibit at your local zoo for at least 10 minutes. If you are unable to visit a zoo, you may watch this video of monkeys in a zoo environment. This video is also found in this week’s M.U.S.E. material. While observing the monkeys, put on your “sociologist hat,” and note the interactions and behaviors that you see.

Answer the following questions in a paper of 800–1,000 words:

How did the monkeys interact with one another?

How is the social behavior and social interaction of monkeys similar to the behavior of humans?

Why do you think humans need social interaction?

What did you learn from conducting field observation research? What do you think of this as a methodology?

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