Animal Studies: Lorenz

Question 1

Define imprinting

Answer 1

An innate readiness to develop a strong bond with a mother figure as soon as they’re born

Question 2

Procedure?

Answer 2

Divided gosling eggs into two groups. One group left with mother whilst the other out in incubator. Lorenz was first thing the incubator eggs saw so they began following him, even when mother was present.

Question 3

Findings?

Answer 3

Animals will imprint on an object if it’s moving, persistent and present during its critical period.

Question 4

Effects on ducks?

How are sexual preferences effected?

Answer 4

Irreversible and long lasting

Animals will choose to mate with the same kind of object / being which they were imprinted on (sexual imprinting).

Question 5

STRENGTH: support for imprinting

Answer 5

Guiton found that chicks fed by yellow gloves in first few weeks of life became imprinted on the gloves

Question 6

LIMITATION: not irreversible

Answer 6

Guiton reversed the imprinting on chickens who tried to mate with gloves by making them spend time with their own species.