Animal Studies of Attachment

Question 1

2 Animal Studies

Answer 1

• Lorenz (1952)
• Harlow (1958)

Question 2

Lorenz Procedure

Answer 2

• Lorenz kept half of the Goose’e eggs
• imitated quaking sounds
• to regard him as mother

Question 3

Lorenz Findings

Answer 3

• his group followed him, control followed mother
• when mixed with control group, control group followed mother, non-control group followed Lorenz
• showed imprinting on first moving objects in ctritical period 12-17 hours

Question 4

Lorenz: Evaluation - Generalisability

Answer 4

• mammalian attachment system is more complex than in birds
• mammals attachment is a two-way process
• means it is not appropriate to generalise Lorenz’s ideas to humans

Question 5

Lorenz: Evaluation - Application

Answer 5

• attempts to use idea that some kind of ‘imprinting’ explains human behaviour
• Peter Seebach (2005) - suggested computer users exhibit ‘baby duck syndrome’ - attachment formed to their first computer leads to rejection of others

Question 6

Lorenz: Evaluation - Supporting Research

Answer 6

• Regolin + Vallortigara
• chicks exposed to simple shape combinations that moved
• followed original shape even after others were shown
• supports view that young animals are born with an innate mechanism to imprint on a moving object present in critical window of development

Question 7

Harlow Procedure

Answer 7

• monkey given two surrogate mothers
• 1- wire, food
• 2- cloth, comfort
• studied 165 days

Question 8

Harlow Findings

Answer 8

• spent more time with the cloth mother
• only went to wire mother if wanting food
• safe base = cloth mother

Question 9

Harlow: Evaluation - Generalisability

Answer 9

• monkeys are more similar to humans than birds
• all mammals share common attachment behaviours
• human brain is more complex
• not appropriate to generalise findings to humans

Question 10

Harlow: Evaluation - Application

Answer 10

• helped social workers and clinical psychologists understand that a lack of bonding experience may be a risk factor in child development
• not just theoretical but also practical

Question 11

Harlow: Evaluation - Ethics

Answer 11

• caused severe and long-term distress to monkeys
• findings and conclusions have important theoretical and practical application