Animal studies

Question 1

What animals did Harlow and Lorenz study?

Answer 1

Harlow-Rhesus monkeys

Lorenz-Goslings

Question 2

Outline Lorenz’s Aim, method, findings and conclusion

Answer 2

Aim: To investigate the phenomenon of imprinting in birds

Method: -Lorenz had two batches of geese eggs.

• the first batch (control group) was placed in front of their mother so they could hatch in-front of her while the second batch (Experimental group) was placed in an incubator so they could hatch in-front of Lorenz
• Lorenz then tagged each gosling after they hatched based on the condition that they came from after they hatched from their eggs

Findings:
-The goslings from the control group would form an attachment by imprinting onto their mother and would follow her around while the goslings from the experimental group would show no signs of attachment towards their biological mother and would follow Lorenz around as a result of imprinting.
-It had to occur during a critical period of 4-25 hours if not an attachment would not occur
-imprinting was also irreversible and a lifelong process
Conclusion:
-Lorenz concluded imprinting is a form of attachment which is innate displayed by birds and it had to occur during a critical period of 4-25 hours from birth if it did not occur they would not be able to form an attachment. Imprinting was also a irreversible and long lasting process.

Question 3

AO3 for Lorenz

Answer 3

• Guiton
• Animal research
• Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment

Question 4

Harlow aim and method

Answer 4

Aim: To investigate the extent contact comfort or food influenced attachment in baby Rhesus monkeys.
Method:
-Bowlby made 2 surrogate mothers one wired mother and one towelling mother.
-They’re were four caged conditions:
-One wired mother feeding food
-one towelling mother feeding food
-a wired mother feeding food and a towelling mother not
-a towelling mother feeding food and a wired mother not
-Bowlby would put Rhesus monkeys in the cages in one of the conditions and would record their behaviours such as how long they would spend time with each mother
-Bowlby would also put the monkeys under stress through a loud noise and would record what mother they would prefer under stress

Question 5

Harlow’s Findings and conclusion

Answer 5

Findings:

• He found monkeys would prefer the towelling mother regardless on whether they fed them food or not and this was shown through them even trying to grab the towelling mother when they were being fed by the wired mother
• Rhesus monkeys who only had a wired mother showed high signs of stress such as diarrhoea
• When the loud noise was presented Rhesus monkeys preferred the towelling mother

Conclusion:
-Harlow concluded that monkeys had an innate drive to seek contact comfort which suggests attachment is influenced by an emotional need for security rather than food.

Question 6

Harlow AO3

Answer 6

• Animal research
• Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment
• Ethics