Animal Studies A03

Question 1

Limitation - generalizability to humans - Lorenz

Answer 1

• Lorenz was interested in imprinting in birds. Although some of his findings have influenced our understanding of human development, there is a problem in generalising from findings on birds to humans.
• It seems that the mammalian attachment system is quite different from that in birds.
• For example, mammalian mothers show more emotional attachment to young than do birds, and mammals may be able to form attachments at any time, albeit less easily than in infancy.
• This means that it is not appropriate to try to generalise any of Lorenz’s ideas to humans.

Question 2

Limitation - some of Lorenz’s observations have been questioned

Answer 2

• Later researchers have questioned some of Lorenz’s conclusions. - for example, the idea that imprinting has a permanent effect on mating behaviour.
• Guiton et al. (1966) found that chickens imprinted on yellow washing up gloves would try to mate with them as adults (as Lorenz would have predicted), but that with experience they eventually learned to prefer mating with other chickens.
• This suggests that the impact of imprinting on mating behaviour is not as permanent as
  Lorenz believed

Question 3

Strength 1 - (Harlow) Theoretical value

Answer 3

• Harlow’s findings have had a profound effect on psychologists’ understanding of human mother-infant attachment. Most importantly Harlow showed that attachment does not develop as the result of being fed by a mother figure but as a result of contact comfort.
• Harlow also showed us the importance of the quality of early relationships for later social development including the ability to hold down adult relationships and successfully rear children.

Question 4

Strenght 2 - (Harlow) - practical value

Answer 4

• The insight into attachment from Harlow’s research has had important applications in a range of practical contexts.
• For example, it has helped social workers understand risk factors in child neglect and abuse and so intervene to prevent it (Howe 1998).
• Of course these findings are also important in the care of captive monkeys; we now understand the importance of proper attachment figures for baby monkeys in zoos and also in breeding programmes in the wild.

Question 5

Limitation - Harlow - ethical issues

Answer 5

• Harlow faced severe criticism for the ethics of his research.
• The monkeys suffered greatly as a result of Harlow’s procedures. This species is considered similar enough to humans to be able to generalise the findings, which also means that their suffering was presumably quite human-like. - Harlow himself was well aware of the suffering he caused - Harlow referred to the wire mothers as ‘iron maidens’ after a medieval torture device.
• The counter-argument is that Harlow’s research was sufficiently important to justify the
  effects.