animal studies- Lorenz and Harlow

Question 1

AO1: Lorenz- imprinting

Answer 1

aim- investigate mechanisms fo imprinting where young form attachment to first moving object they meet

procedure- split a clutch of goose eggs in 2 groups, one hatched naturally and other in incubator (Lorenz was the first moving object). Marked each goose and placed them under a box

findings- the naturally hatched goslings followed their mother and the incubator goslings followed Lorenz. Same happened when released from box, showing the bonds are irreversible. Found imprinting only occurs between 4 and 25 hours after hatching.

Question 2

AO1: Harlow- Baby monkeys study

Answer 2

aim- use learning theory to compare attachment in baby monkeys

procedure- 4 conditions: cage with wire mother with milk and towel mother with no milk, cage with wire mother with no milk and towel mother with milk, cage with wire mother with milk and a final cage of the towel mother with milk. Amount of time spent with each mother recorded and frightened with loud noises to test preference for which mother during stress.

findings- they preferred contact with towelling mother regardless of wether she produced milk. Monkeys with only wired mother had diarrhoea (sign of stress)

Question 3

AO3: limitation- cant generalise Lorenz’s results

strength- findings are highly influential

Answer 3

P: cant generalise the results
E: as he studies geese can’t generalise the results to humans as we can’t conclude if they’d behave in the same way.
E: this means caution must be applied when drawing wider conclusions
L: therefore research into animal studies has low population validity
HOWEVER, his findings have been highly influential within developmental psychology. e.g. the fact imprinting is irreversible according to Lorenz suggests attachment is biological and happens within a specific timeframe. The research into animal studies has helped developmental psychologists develop theories of attachment and a critical period.

Question 4

AO3: limitation- ethical issues

strength- cost benefit analysis

Answer 4

P: ethical issues in baby monkey study
E/E: they suffered psychological damage by being separated from their mothers at such an early age
L: shows that research into animal studies doesn’t follow ethical guidelines
HOWEVER, when it comes to the cost benefit analysis, the benefits out way the costs. Because the research has been insightful and developed developmental psychologists understanding of attachment

Question 5

AO3: limitation- imprinting may be reversible

Answer 5

P: imprinting may be reversible
E: study found that chickens would imprint on yellow washing up gloves when it was the first moving object they saw. They would then try and and mate with them in adulthood.
E: found the chickens eventually learnt to mate with other chickens showing imprinting is reversible
L: therefore their is doubt on the findings from the research into animal studies.

Question 6

AO3: strength- real life application

Answer 6

P: real life application from the baby monkey study results
E/E: helping social workers understand risk factors in neglect and abuse cases. As well as making sure captive wild monkeys in zoos ensure have an attachment figure
L: shows research into animal studies can help in the real world