animal studies of attachment

Question 1

define ethologist

Answer 1

scientist who studies animal behaviour in their natural environment

Question 2

who did a study on geese

Answer 2

Lorenz

Question 3

explain the procedure and findings of Lorenz’s research

Answer 3

randomly divided a clutch of goose eggs

half hatched with mothers in natural environment

half hatched in an incubator with Lorenz being the first moving thing they saw

incubator (experimental group) - followed Lorenz

control group - followed their mother

Question 4

define sexual imprinting

Answer 4

birds that imprinted on humans would later display courtship behaviours towards humans

Question 5

explain the procedure and findings of Lorenz’s case study

Answer 5

1952
in reptile house of a zoo

peacock that first moving it saw after hatching was a giant tortoise

as an adult peacock would only direct courtship behaviour to giant tortoises

Lorenz concluded that the peacock had undergone sexual imprinting

Question 6

define imprinting

Answer 6

species mobile from birth attach to and follow the first moving thing they see

Question 7

what happens if imprinting does not occur in chicks

Answer 7

if imprinting does not occur in chicks then they don’t attach themselves to a mother figure

Question 8

who did the animal study on rhesus mnkeys

Answer 8

Harlow

Question 9

what was the procedure of Harlow’s study

Answer 9

reared 16 rhesus baby monkeys

with 2 wire monkeys

one condition - milk dispensed by plaine wire mother

2nd condition - milk dispensed by cloth covered mother

Question 10

what were the findings of Harlow’s study

Answer 10

monkeys reared with wire mothers were most dysfunctional

those reared with soft toy as mother did not develop normal social behaviour

they were more aggressive, less sociable, unskilled at mating

baby monkey cuddled cloth covered monkey regardless of who was dispensing milk as they were seeking comfort

Question 11

define the crictical period in Harlow’s study

Answer 11

a mother had to be introduced within 90 days for an attachment to form

after this it’s impossible and the damage becomes irreversible

Question 12

explain the effects of early maternal deprivation in harlow’s study

Answer 12

plain wire mothers only got milk = most dysfunctional

when they became mothers they neglected or attacked their young

Question 13

what is the research support for Lorenz’s research

Answer 13

chicks imprinted on moving shapes