animal studies:attachment Flashcards
Who was one of the most prominent ethologists in the early 20th century?
Konrad Lorenz
Lorenz’s work focused on caregiver-infant attachment in humans.
What phenomenon did Lorenz first observe as a child?
Imprinting
Imprinting is when newborn animals attach to the first moving object they see.
In Lorenz’s experiment, what did the incubator group of goose eggs follow?
Lorenz
They followed Lorenz, the first moving object they saw after hatching.
What did the control group of goose eggs follow?
Their mother
This group was hatched in the presence of their mother.
What is the critical period for imprinting identified by Lorenz?
A few hours after hatching or birth
If imprinting does not occur within this time, attachment is not formed.
What is sexual imprinting according to Lorenz’s research?
The process where birds imprint on a human and later display courtship behavior towards humans
This was illustrated in the case of a peacock raised with giant tortoises.
What animal did Harry Harlow use for his attachment studies?
Rhesus monkeys
These animals are more similar to humans than Lorenz’s birds.
What did Harlow find was important for newborn monkeys’ survival?
Contact comfort
Monkeys kept alone in a cage often died unless given something soft to cuddle.
What were the two types of ‘mothers’ used in Harlow’s experiment?
Plain-wire mother and cloth-covered mother
One dispensed milk while the other provided comfort.
Which mother did baby monkeys prefer to cuddle?
The cloth-covered mother
This preference was shown regardless of which mother dispensed milk.
What severe consequences did Harlow find in maternally deprived monkeys?
Dysfunctional social behavior
These monkeys were more aggressive and less sociable.
What was the critical period for attachment formation in monkeys according to Harlow?
90 days
A mother figure had to be introduced within this time for attachment to form.
True or False: Harlow concluded that early maternal deprivation had no lasting effects on monkeys.
False
Early deprivation led to irreversible damage in social behavior.
What is the purpose of animal studies in psychology?
To study non-human animal species for ethical or practical reasons
Animals breed faster and allow researchers to see results across generations.
What concept does Lorenz’s research support?
Imprinting
Imprinting is a critical process where young animals form attachments to moving objects during a specific developmental window.
What did Regolin and Vallortigara’s 1995 study demonstrate?
Chicks followed the original shape (triangle with rectangle on front) combination most closely
This study provided evidence for the innate mechanism of imprinting in young animals.
What is a limitation of Lorenz’s studies regarding generalisability?
Findings from birds may not apply to humans
The mammalian attachment system is more complex and involves mutual attachment between mothers and offspring.
What is one strength of Harlow’s research?
Important real-world applications
Harlow’s findings have informed social work and clinical psychology, particularly in understanding bonding experiences in child development.
How has Harlow’s research influenced social workers and clinical psychologists?
Helped understand the lack of bonding experience as a risk factor
This understanding allows for interventions to prevent poor developmental outcomes.
What is a limitation of generalising Harlow’s findings to humans?
Human brain and behavior are more complex than monkeys
Although Rhesus monkeys are similar to humans, the complexity of human attachments may not be fully represented in monkey studies.
