animal studies of attachment: Lorenz and Harlow Flashcards
what is imprinting?
animals will attach to the first
moving object or person they see directly after birth
How did Lorenz show that imprinting occurred in a clutch of goose eggs?
half attached to and followed Lorenz after seeing him as the
first moving person after birth.
when must Imprinting/ the formation of an attachment happen?
within the critical period of attachment development, which is usually the first 30 months of life, after which an attachment is not possible and the consequences of a failure to form an attachment are irreversible.
what is sexual imprinting?
where animals will attach to and display sexual behaviours towards the first moving object or animal they see directly after birth
what did Lorenz report a case about regarding sexual imprinting?
a peacock who was born surrounded by turtles, and so only desired to mate with turtles in later life.
P = There are significant issues associated with trying to generalise findings from Lorenz’s studies
E = For example, mammalian attachment systems are different to that of birds
E = mammals can potentially form attachments at any time during their lives and at a greater emotional intensity.
L = this suggests that such findings have low ecological validity because they cannot be generalised beyond the research setting within which they were found.
P = Sexual imprinting is not as permanent as Lorenz theorised
E = Guiton et al demonstrated that chickens who’d imprinted on washing up gloves eventually learned to prefer to mate with other chickens
L = This means that learning and experience are more important factors in attachment formation than imprinting.
what did Harlow demonstrate?
the importance of contact comfort with rhesus monkeys and two ‘Iron Maidens’
what did researchers find regarding Harlow’s’ monkeys?
when the monkeys were scared, regardless of which wire monkey was dispensing milk, the baby monkeys would always seek comfort from the cloth-bound mother.
what was the conclusion from Harlow’s study of monkeys?
contact comfort was more important than food in the development of attachments
what other issue did Harlow report?
developmental issues associated with the infant monkeys, even those who had the option of choosing the cloth-bound mother.
what did researchers find about monkeys who had developmental issues?
what did this demonstrate the importance of?
monkeys were less skilled at mating, were aggressive towards their own children and would be socially reclusive.
demonstrated the importance of a secure attachment to a
primary attachment figure within the critical period i.e. the first 30 months of life.
P = Harlow’s research has significant practical value, especially in the design of zoos and the care of animals in shelters.
E = His research demonstrated the importance of attachment figures and intellectual stimulation, alongside contact comfort, which means that zoos should ensure that animals have the opportunity to form such attachments in order to ensure healthy development.
P = significant ethical breaches
E = long-term psychological harm was inflicted upon the monkeys, in the form of later difficulties mating and forming secure attachments, which Harlow most likely envisioned.
E = In such cases, a cost-benefit
analysis should be conducted to assess whether the ethical costs are smaller or larger than the
benefits of an improved understanding of attachment.
