Animal Studies Of Attachment Evaluation Flashcards
How is the research support for imprinting a massive strength?
Guiton (1966) demonstrated chicks exposed to yellow rubber gloves while being fed during their first few weeks, became imprinted on the gloves.
. Supports view that imprinting happens on the first moving thing, they don’t have a predisposition on any type of object
. Also found that male chickens later tried to mate with the gloves, supports sexual imprinting
Why are the characteristics of imprinting a weakness?
They are disputed:
. The general accepted view was that imprinting was an irreversible process
. However, Guiton (1966) found that after the chickens spent some time with their own species, they could engage in normal sexual behaviours, so he could reverse the sexual imprinting
This suggests that imprinting may not be so different from any kind of learning after all
How is the generalisability of Lorenz’s research a weakness?
The mammalian attachment system is quite different to that of birds. E.g mammalian mothers show more emotional attachment to the infants than birds do
. Humans can also talk and birds can’t
How are Lorenz’s findings influential?
His work enabled psychologists such as Bowlby to further explore the created idea of a critical period.
How are confounding variables a problem in Harlow’s research?
The two heads were different, varying systematically with the independent variable. It is possible that the infant monkeys preferred one mother to the other because the cloth-covered mother had a more attractive, real looking head
Therefore, the conclusions of his study lack internal validity
Does the Harlow’s monkeys study have ecological validity?
Somewhat, Harlow’s research is supported by Schaffer and Emerson’s findings that infants were not attached to the person who fed them
This shows that Harlow’s research is influential as it follows in line with the results of human studies, which is odd as it is an animal stuydb
Was Harlow’s study ethical and worth it?
No protection from psychological harm as monkeys found it later difficult to form relationships with peers
. However, the research from this study has been helpful in offering better care for human infants
What is the practical value of Harlow’s research?
It has helped social workers understand risk factors in child neglect and abuse and so we can intervene to prevent it (Howe 1998)
