ANIMAL STUDIES

Question 1

Which two researchers conducted animal studies?

Answer 1

• Lorenz (1935)

- Harlow (1959)

Question 2

What was Lorenz’s procedure?

Answer 2

• divides goose eggs into 2 batches
• one batch hatched naturally with mother
• other batch places in incubator and Lorenz was the first large moving object they say

Question 3

What were Lorenz’s findings?

Answer 3

• naturally hatched goslings followed mother goose
• incubator hatched goslings followed lorenz
• imprinting only happened within critical period of 4-25 hours
• relationship persisted over time and proved irreversible

Question 4

What was Lorenz’s conclusion?

Answer 4

• imprinting isn’t active immediately after hatching
• only occurs in critical period
• imprinting is irreversible and gosling couldn’t imprint on anything else

Question 5

What is a negative evaluation of Lorenz’s research? (1)

Answer 5

• attachment formation in mammals very different to that of birds
• human parents can show more emotional reactions and form attachments beyond the first few hours
• lorenz has influenced our understanding of attachment
• caution must be applied when drawing wider conclusions

Question 6

What is a negative evaluation for Lorenz’s study? (2)

Answer 6

• later research cast doubt on Lorenz’s conclusions
• guiton et al (1966) found chickens would imprint on yellow washing up gloves if it was the 1st large moving object they saw and try mate with it in future
• disagreed that relationship was permanent and irreversible
• chickens learnt to prefer mating with other chickens

Question 7

What was Harlow’s procedure?

Answer 7

• attachment behaviour in rhesus monkeys

- constructed two surrogate mothers: one harsh wire mother and a soft towelling mother

Question 8

What were Harlow’s findings?

Answer 8

• baby monkeys preferred soft towelling mother

- would stretch across to wire mother for food while clinging to towelling mother

Question 9

What 3 things did Harlow measure?

Answer 9

• The amount of time spent with each mother
• a stress test to see mother preference
• degree of exploration

Question 10

What is a positive evaluation for Harlow’s research? (1)

Answer 10

• results are of large practical value
• provide insight to attachment formation and had real world applications
• Howe (1998) suggested knowledge gained helped social workers understand neglect and abuse in children
• can prevent it occurring or Intervene
• practical applications like ensuring monkeys in captivity have adequate attachment figures

Question 10

What were Harlow’s conclusion?

Answer 10

• baby rhesus monkeys have an innate drive to seek contact comfort
• attachment with parents formed through emotional need for security

Question 12

What is a positive evaluation of Harlows study? (2)

Answer 12

• humans and monkeys are similar
• green (1994) stated all mammals have the same brain structure as humans
• only difference is size and number of connections
• increases validity