I think it was conducted in the early 1920’s. A scientist left babies unattended except for diaper changes. They were fed without any human contact. I know such an experiement was conducted with monkeys, but I seem to recall some human study as well.
http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Watson/emotion.htm
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Speech/rccs/theory23.htm
Deprivation
Withholding touch from infants generally tends to maintain results of the largest consequences. History has proven that deprivation of touch to infants is quite detrimental, even fatal. Hygienic institutes in 1920 experienced a near 100% infant death rate. Medical scientists were confused. The children were well-fed and well taken care of but left virtually untouched. By the late 1920’s, various changes were made to infant care facilities, including the provision of "mothering." Infants were held, rocked and stroked by nurses at feeding time and other particular periods. Death rates immediately dropped to 40%.
Other consequences to denying infants of tactility do exist. Without physical stimulation, a child cannot become properly aware of the nature or "extent" of his or her own body. This deficiency can result in a retardation or damage of psychological identification with one’s own body, leading to various social developmental problems.
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:35 am
http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Watson/emotion.htm
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Speech/rccs/theory23.htm
Deprivation
Withholding touch from infants generally tends to maintain results of the largest consequences. History has proven that deprivation of touch to infants is quite detrimental, even fatal. Hygienic institutes in 1920 experienced a near 100% infant death rate. Medical scientists were confused. The children were well-fed and well taken care of but left virtually untouched. By the late 1920’s, various changes were made to infant care facilities, including the provision of "mothering." Infants were held, rocked and stroked by nurses at feeding time and other particular periods. Death rates immediately dropped to 40%.
Other consequences to denying infants of tactility do exist. Without physical stimulation, a child cannot become properly aware of the nature or "extent" of his or her own body. This deficiency can result in a retardation or damage of psychological identification with one’s own body, leading to various social developmental problems.
References :
December 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 am
I think that the scientist’s name was Ferber….. I recall studies done like this because it was discussed in my college psych class. This is where the Ferber method of discipline comes from…. leaving the child alone so that they can self-soothe and figure things out themselves.
I searched and searched yahoo and google both, and cannot find any articles to support this. I would probably call a local college (or community college since actual universities will be too busy to do this) and speak with a psych professor. I’m sure s/he will be more than happy to discuss this case study with you.
Good luck!
References :