Animal studies

Question 1

Lorenz procedure

Answer 1

1. Goose eggs randomly divided
2. Half were hatched with mothers present (natural)
3. Half hatched in an incubator with Lorenz present.
4. Behaviour was recorded.
5. Geese put in upturned box to mix. Groups split to their respective ‘mothers’

Question 2

lorenz results

Answer 2

Goslings who saw Lorenz first followed him everywhere, control followed the mother as normal.
Critical period for imprinting seemed to be 15 hours.
Sexual imprinting- birds imprinted on humans courted humans.

Question 3

Interpretation of Lorenz

Answer 3

Attachment is pre-programmed and instinctive
A critical period exists.

Question 4

Strengths of Lorenz

Answer 4

Influential- Results refute learning theory as they supports instinct. Findings influenced by Bowlby.
Provides another explanation of attachment.

Question 5

Limitations of Lorenz

Answer 5

-Cannot be generalised to humans- They are birds so different attachments, birds are more instinctive, humans are similar to mammels not birds
-Sexual imprinting isn’t permanent- Chicks who imprinted on yellow gloves eventually tried to mate with other chickens (Guiton)

Question 6

Harlow Procedure

Answer 6

1. infant monkeys placed in isolation from other monkeys and their mothers.
2. Gave monkeys a choice between two ‘model mothers’
3. One made of wire and dispensed milk and the other was cloth.
4. Time spent with each other recorded.
5. behaviour in a fear condition (loud noise) observed.
6. Long term affects recorded.

Question 7

Harlow results

Answer 7

-Monkeys spent more time with cloth mother but wire when hungry.
-In fear monkeys went to cloth mother
-As adults they were less sociable, aggressive, unskilled at courtship, abusive to offspring often killing them.

Question 8

Harlow implications

Answer 8

Disruption of attachment has long term and irreversible negative consequences
Attachment formation is innate
Behaviourist explanations of simple condition isn’t supported.

Question 9

Strengths of Harlow

Answer 9

-Practical applications- Can be used to identify risk infants and inform advice on childcare, can be applied to help captive monkeys.
-Profound theoretical importance- Behaviourist approach was prominent at the time. Findings changed the way psychologists thought about formation of attachments.