Animal studies in attachment

Question 1

Describe Lorenz research

Answer 1

• invest imprinting on goslings, Field experiment
  procedure:
• random divided goose eggs half mother half lorenz
  Findings:
• lorenz group that saw him 1st imprinted upon and followed him everwhere, control group saw mother 1st imprinted upon followed her
• critical period (12-17 hrs), imprinting must occur or no attachment forms
  conclusion:
• goslings imprint 1st moving object, specific time period must occur or no attachment

Question 2

AO3 for Lorenz

Answer 2

practical applications

• principles, had to imprint in crit period or no imprinting at all + fact they later show sexual beh towards humans shows importance of crit period on future rships
• psychologists use info promote importance early interactions bet parent+infant reduce issues later in life
• lorenz import part of applied psychology

Animal bias

• conducted on animals
• human beh more complex, human more sophisticated towards offspring than birds
• EG: human attachment 2 way process, not just young who get attached to their mothers but also mammalian mothers who show emot attach to young
• Therefore difficulty extrapolating findings of Lorenz
  Researcher bias
• recorded own observation, only include findings would support his theory of imprinting.
• Therefore lower int val not measure effects

Question 3

Harlow AO1

Answer 3

• 16 baby rhesus monkeys, lab experiment
• wire monkey w milk + cloth mother w milk
• frightened w noise, long term effects recorded
  findings
• more time w cloth, frightened go to cloth
• later life emotional damage, easily bullied
  conclusion:
• contact comfort most important formin attachment

Question 4

Harlow AO3

Answer 4

practical applications

• can be used by social workers+clinical psychologists in understanding lack of bonding experience maybe risk factor in child development prevent poor outcomes
• import part of applied psychology when formin attachment

Animal Bias

• conducted on animals
• human beh more complex, human more sophisticated towards offspring than monkeys
• EG: human attachment 2 way process, not just young who get attached to their mothers but also mammalian mothers who show emot attach to young
• Therefore difficulty extrapolating findings of Harlow
  Ethical issues - harm inflicted
• monkeys suffered greatly due to procedures
• frightened later life sometimes died
• Limiting research into attachments in animals