Animal Studies Flashcards
Describe the procedures and conclusions of Lorenz’s study.
Goose eggs divided into group 1 which was left w mother and group 2 which was incubated and first thing they saw when hatched was Lorenz.
Group 1 immediately followed mother and group 2 immediately followed Lorenz. When placed together they split into following the mother and Lorenz. Goslings has formed a strong bond in a few hours, known as imprinting.
What are the conclusions from lorenzs study.
The process of imprinting is limited to a critical period. If the young animal isn’t exposed to a moving object during this time frame they won’t imprint. The process is irreversible, long lasting and has an effect on later mate preferences. It is an adaptive behaviour (protected by thing they imprint on).
Give a strength of lorenzs study.
Supporting evidence - chicks fed using a rubber glove during first few weeks imprinted on the glove. Adult male chicks later tried mating w the glove. Correct that animals will imprint on a moving object in the critical period.
Give 2 criticisms of Lorenzs study.
Imprinting could be reversed. When the chicks spent time with other chicks they engaged in normal sexual behaviour. It is irreversible so Lorenz not correct.
Can’t extrapolate data from geese to humans. Human babies born quite helpless and w/o motor skills to move around so can’t demonstrate imprinting like geese do.
Describe the procedures and findings of Harlows study.
8 newborn rhesus monkeys taken from mothers and studied for 165 days, kept in isolation and given choice of 2 surrogate mothers, a wire mother w a milk bottle or a wire mother covered in soft cloth. Harlow recorded amount of time spent with them and their response when frightened.
Monkeys spent most of the time w the cloth mother and only spent a minimal time w wire mother when feeding. When frightened they clung to the cloth mother and used it as a secure base when playing w new objects. Long lasting effects - unable to socialise w other monkeys (freezing/running away) and didn’t show normal mating behaviour.
Give the conclusion of Harlows study.
Infants don’t develop attachments to the person who feeds them but the person who offers comfort through contact.
Give 2 criticisms of Harlows research.
Can’t extrapolate data - humans make conscious decisions monkeys don’t
Unethical - long term social and emotional damage to monkeys who couldn’t form relationships w peers.
Give an issue of Harlows research.
Methodological issues - heads of the surrogate mothers were different (cloth mother had monkey like face whereas wire mother didn’t). Infant monkeys might have spent more time w cloth mother bc they found the face more attractive.
