Animal Studies - Lorenz (AO1)

Question 1

What was the aim of Lorenz’s research?

Answer 1

to investigate the mechanisms of imprinting where young geese follow & form an attachment to the first large moving object they meet

Question 2

What is imprinting?

Answer 2

imprinting is an innate readiness to develop a strong bond with mother

Question 3

When does imprinting take place?

Answer 3

during a specific time in development - the critical period

Question 4

What was Lorenz’s procedure?

Answer 4

Lorenz split a large clutch of goose eggs into 2 groups

when they hatched he marked them so he knew which ones were in which group

he then placed them under an upturned box and observed their behaviour under the box

Question 5

What were the 2 groups?

Answer 5

Group 1:
1/2 of the eggs were hatched naturally by the mother

Group 2:
1/2 of the eggs were hatched in an incubator, with Lorenz being the first moving object the goslings encountered

Question 6

What was Lorenz’s findings?

Answer 6

after hatching group 1 followed their mother vs. group 2 followed Lorenz

when released from the box the same thing happened

group 2 even tried to mate w humans

imprinting occurred only a short period of time after birth (4-25 hours)

Question 7

Conclusions of Lorenz’s findings?

Answer 7

imprinting is a form of attachment exhibited by birds, whereby close contact is maintained with first moving object

occurs in a definite period of time (critical period) and is innate