Animal studies of attachment Flashcards
When was Lorenz’s study?
1952
What was Lorenz’s study?
Goslings hatched in an incubator, Lorenz was the first thing they saw, they imprinted on Lorenz and followed him around
What can we conclude from Lorenz’s study?
It supports the view that a biological basis for attachment is adaptive as it promotes survival, however goslings imprint after a few minutes due to their increased mobility, whereas humans take much longer as they are born immobile
When was Harlow’s study?
1958
What was Harlow’s procedure?
8 rhesus monkeys were caged from infancy with wire mesh food dispensing and cloth covered surrogate mothers, measured the amount of time they spent with each surrogate
He also reviewed a control group of non isolated monkeys and they went on to be healthy
What did Harlow find?
Separated monkeys would show attachment behaviours towards cloth-covered mother when frightened
Monkeys would explore new toys when cloth covered monkey was present but not when it was only the wired
Separated monkeys all displayed dysfunctional behaviour, such as being timid, unpredictable, difficulty with mating, and females went on to be bad mothers
What can we conclude from Harlow’s study?
Food is not as crucial as comfort when forming a bond
Early attachment experiences predict long term social development
Similar?
Green (1994) states that on biological level, all mammals (including rhesus monkeys) have same brain structure as humans, just different size and number of connections
Applications?
Harlow’s research has profound implications for childcare, all of children’s needs must be catered for, not just physical needs
Generalisable?
Unlikely that observations of goslings or rhesus monkeys reflects emotional connections and interactions that characterise human attachments
Therefore, difficult to generalise
Ethical issues?
Could be argued that animals have a right not to be researched/harmed
Rhesus monkeys were permanently damaged, and Goslings never had attachment with mothers
