Animal Studies Flashcards
What is imprinting?
Imprinting is a process where an infant forms an attachment to a parent or caregiver.
How do swans demonstrate imprinting?
Swans had 5 cygnets that clung to their mother for the first few weeks, tucked underneath her for survival.
Are animals born with a ready-made image of their parents?
No, animals are not born with a ready-made image of their parents.
What experiment did Lorenz conduct with goslings?
Lorenz divided gosling eggs into two groups: one with their natural mother and one in an incubator.
What happened to the goslings in the incubator?
The goslings in the incubator imprinted on Lorenz and followed him around.
What did Lorenz observe when he released the goslings?
The group that saw their mother first followed her, while the incubator group followed Lorenz.
What did Lorenz (1952) find about mobile bird species?
Mobile bird species attach and follow the first moving object they see, which is crucial for protection and feeding.
What is the critical period for imprinting identified by Lorenz?
Lorenz identified a critical period for imprinting that needs to occur within a few hours.
Why is early imprinting important for long-term outcomes?
Early imprinting is important for long-term mating choices, as studies show mate choice is related to early imprinting.
What example did Lorenz provide regarding sexual imprinting?
Lorenz described a peacock reared in a reptile house that only directed courtship behavior towards a giant tortoise after hatching.
What experiment did Lorenz conduct?
Lorenz conducted an experiment where goslings were hatched either with their mother or in an incubator.
What behavior did goslings exhibit after hatching?
Goslings followed the first moving object they saw between 13 and 16 hours after hatching, which was Lorenz.
Why is the biological basis for attachment considered adaptive?
It promotes survival.
How does the imprinting process differ between goslings and human babies?
Goslings imprint shortly after hatching due to their mobility, while human babies develop attachment later (around 8-9 months) due to being immobile.
What did Guiton (1966) demonstrate about imprinting?
Guiton showed that chicks could imprint on yellow rubber gloves and later tried to mate with them.
What does Guiton’s finding suggest about early imprinting?
Early imprinting is linked to reproductive behavior.
What is a weakness of the imprinting mechanism according to Hoffman (1996)?
Imprinting is a plastic and forgiving mechanism.
What did Guiton (1966) find regarding reversing imprinting?
He found that imprinting on the glove could be reversed if chicks spent time with their own species.
How is imprinting now believed to function?
Imprinting is now believed to be like any other learning process; it can occur rapidly and is fairly reversible.
What caution should be taken when generalizing animal behavior to humans?
Caution should be taken due to differences in behavior and attachment processes.
What does the early imprinting of goslings suggest about critical periods?
It suggests that imprinting operates within a critical period underpinned by biological changes.
What does the longevity of the bond between goslings and Lorenz indicate?
It supports the view that early attachment experiences predict future bonds.
What instinctive behavior do goslings display shortly after hatching?
Goslings innately follow moving objects, which is adaptive given their premature mobility.
What did Harlow’s research on monkeys focus on?
Harlow conducted research on learning using monkeys.
What distress did Harlow observe in monkeys?
Monkeys became distressed when their cage was cleaned.
What role did the sanitary pads play for the monkeys?
The monkeys became attached to the sanitary pads as a kind of ‘security blanket.’
What were the two types of wire mothers created by Harlow?
One had a feeding bottle, and the other had a soft cloth but no food.
Which wire mother did the monkeys prefer?
Monkeys spent most time with the soft cloth mother and clung to it when frightened.
What did Harlow study regarding motherless monkeys?
Harlow continued research to see if maternal deprivation had a permanent effect.
What abnormal behaviors did motherless monkeys exhibit?
They froze or fled when approached by other monkeys and did not show normal mating behavior.
What was the critical period found by Harlow?
A mother figure had to be introduced within 90 days for an attachment to form.
What happens if a mother figure is not introduced within the critical period?
After this time, early deprivation is irreversible.
What confounding variable affected Harlow’s study?
The two wired monkeys varied in other ways, such as having different heads.
What did Schaffer and Emerson (1964) find regarding infant attachment?
They found infants were most attached to those who interacted with them the most, supporting comfort rather than food.
What ethical concerns arose from Harlow’s study?
The study created long-lasting harm as the monkeys found it difficult to form relationships with peers.
What is the significance of the knowledge gained from Harlow’s study?
The knowledge from this study outweighs the consequences.
What practical value did Harlow’s research provide?
It helped social workers understand risk factors in child neglect and abuse, aiding in intervention.
How has Harlow’s research impacted animal care?
It has helped with attachment in zoos and breeding programs in the wild for animals.
