The upcoming release of the biography of controversial primate-research pioneer Harry Harlow may trigger outcries from animal activists, but Terry Devitt, director or research communications for the university, predicts it will also be an important step in better understanding primate research.
Devitt said that while the work of the late UW-Madison psychologist was undoubtedly controversial, it was essentially aimed at improving society. Devitt believes the fall 2002 release of the biography, \Love at Goon Park: Harry Harlow and the Science of Affection,"" will only illuminate UW-Madison as a world-renowned and leading research institution with a rich and successful history.
""While Harry Harlow was certainly a controversial figure, many of the things he did had very positive effects,"" Devitt said. ""I expect that the book will have a positive effect on [UW-Madison's] reputation.""
Deborah Blum, author of the biography, acknowledged that animal rights activists see Harlow as ""the ultimate bad guy."" She also said that some at the university worry she is ""stirring the pot' of animal activist emotion by writing about Harlow's life.
Joining UW-Madison's faculty in 1930, Harlow founded the world-famous primate laboratory two years later, establishing the nation's first monkey-breeding colony.
Beginning in 1958, Harlow worked with young rhesus monkeys that, like human babies, show a wide range of emotions and a need to be nursed.
Possibly Harlow's most famous experiment involved taking infant rhesus monkeys away from their biological mothers and presenting them with two artificial mothers, one made of wire and the other of cloth. Although the wire model dispensed food, the babies clearly preferred cuddling with the cloth model, especially when they were frightened.
Harlow used the results of this research to identify similar behavior in humans and inspired a revolution that encouraged science to confront the nature of affection and human relationships.
During the mid-20th century, a time when child-rearing methods were highly debated among the most prominent members of the field of psychology, Harlow defended his theories that revolved around a universal need for contact.
According to Blum, this is why the book will be so poignant.
""I knew that Harlow had made a difference,"" said Blum, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and UW-Madison professor of journalism. ""I wanted to use Harlow's story to show how through his good work, we've greatly improved child-rearing techniques.""
Ingrid Newkirk, president and co-founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, disagrees with this interpretation and views Harlow in a negative light.
Newkirk, speaking after a November appearance on the UW-Madison campus as part of the Spitfire Tour, said the release of Harlow's biography could cause people to ""wonder what sort of institution condones such cruel work.""
""I believe that if people read about Harlow's experiments, however favorably they are portrayed, they will be sickened by the incredible amount of suffering this man caused,"" Newkirk said.
""I hope people will think about it and question what goes on behind the closed doors of the primate centers in this country.""
Newkirk explained that in Harlow's research, he went beyond simply removing infant monkeys from their mothers and ""designed experiments that became increasingly bizarre.""
According to Newkirk, after his initial experiments, Harlow began to replace actual primate mothers with ""monster mothers"" that were covered with sharp spikes or that violently shook the infant monkeys that clung to them.
""He epitomizes the scientist who thinks so little of his living, feeling subjects that no procedure is too cruel,"" Newkirk said.
Blum is certainly no stranger to the controversy surrounding Harlow's work. Facing much public and professional criticism, she devoted a chapter of her previous work titled ""The Monkey Wars"" to his controversial research methods.
""Unlike with 'The Monkey Wars,' I haven't interviewed many animal activists for this book, so I haven't stirred up much negative reaction,"" Blum said. ""The animal activists like to use him as the ultimate bad guy and have been very successful in creating that image.""
Devitt agrees that Harlow and his work must be put in the proper historical perspective.
""Some of the research conducted by Harlow, in retrospect, seems cruel and it is unlikely that such work could be carried out [at UW-Madison] or anywhere else today,"" Devitt said. ""But Harlow was a product of his time and his work with animals received very little criticism while he was alive. It wasn't until after his death that he was vilified by animal rights activists.""
""One of the reasons that people have forgotten about what beautiful stuff [Harlow] did is that he's so controversial that even people who like his work don't want to appear associated with him,"" Blum said.
As a result of her past works on the topic, Blum is familiar with Harlow's life and, according to Devitt, will be very accurate in her portrayal of his complicated and intriguing legacy.
""[Blum] is an excellent journalist and I can think of no one else who could do a better or more complete job of profiling someone,"" Devitt said.
