Reaction of monkey mothers to long-term separation from their infants

Abstract

Five pigtailed monkey mothers (Macaca nemestrina) were separated from their six-month-old infants. Mothers reacted initially with agitation. Eighteen days after separation several behavioral measures suggested depression. Two months after separation all measures returned to preseparation levels and showed no change after infants were reunited with their mothers. © 1968, Psychonomic Journals. All rights reserved.