Mother-infant attachment in the squirrel monkey: adrenal response to separation.

The pituitary-adrenal response following separation was evaluated in mother and infant squirrel monkeys. Four mother-infant pairs and a pregnant female, living in a social group, were the subjects of this experiment. The plasma cortisol levels of the mothers and infants were determined after the following conditions: (1) basal levels at 1100 hr, (2) 30 min after momentary separation and reunion, (3) 30 min after infant removal from the group, and (4) 30 min after mother removal from the group. The levels of plasma cortisol were significantly elevated in both mothers and infants following separation and the response was not reduced by the presence of familiar animals (e.g., separated infants which were “aunted” by the pregnant female). Separation followed by immediate reunion did not result in elevated values. These data indicate that a specific attachment relationship develops between mother and infant, and that the agitation following separation is reduced only by reunion with the object of attachment.

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