Animal Studies of ATTACHMENTS Flashcards
What are the 2 key studies of animal attachment
Lorenz Imprinting theory- Geese
Harlow Isolation and Surrogate mother study - Monkeys
Aim of Lorenz Gosling study (1952)
To investigate the mechanics of imprinting and what they can tell us about attachment
Procedure of Lorenz Gosling study (1952)
- Took cutch of goose eggs until about to hatch
- Half of eggs placed under goose mother
- Other half beside himself in an incubator
- upon hatching, Lorenz imitated goose mother quack
- Lorenz then observed behaviour of Goslings
Findings of Lorenz Gosling study (1952)
- Geese Followed first moving object they saw during a 12->17 hour critical period of hatching = Imprinting
- Geese Followed Lorenz as a Mother
Conclusions of Lorenz Gosling study (1952)
- Unlikely that attachment will form after 32 hours of no imprinting
- Strongest response forms between 12 and 17 hrs after hatching
- Imprinting cannot be reversed, won’t imprint on anything else
-Attachment is innate and is programmed genetically
Aim of Harlow’s study on Isolation in Monkeys (1959)
Study mechanisms behind which new born resus monkeys are effected by isolation
Procedure of Harlow’s study on Isolation in Monkeys (1959)
- Isolated baby Rhesus monkeys from birth
- Kept in iso for 3, 6, 9mth, 1yr
- Then put with other monkeys to assess attachment behaviour
Findings + Conclusion of Harlow’s study on Isolation in Monkeys (1959)
Engaged in Strange behaviour such as:
- Clutching own body, rocking back and forth
- Bullied by other monkeys
- Scared of other monkeys, became aggressive
- Indulged in self mutilation
Therefore Privation is permanently damaging to monkeys.
Longer kept isolated, worse the effects
Aim of Harlow’s study on Surrogate Mothers in Monkeys (1959)
To see mechanics by which newborn Rhesus monkeys bond with their mothers
Procedure of Harlow’s study on Surrogate Mothers in Monkeys (1959)
- 8 monkeys separated from mothers at birth
- placed in cage with access to 2 surrogate mothers
a) one mother made of Terry Toweling cloth
b) one mother made of wire with food attached - 4 monkeys could get food from wire mothers.
- others got food from wire mother
- Studied for 165 days
Findings of Harlow’s study on Surrogate Mothers in Monkeys (1959)
- Both groups spent more time with cloth mother
- Infant only go to wire mother if hungry
- If scared, seek comfort from cloth mother (safe base)
Conclusion of Harlow’s study on Surrogate Mothers in Monkeys (1959)
- To develop normally, must form attachment with object they can cling to during first months of life
- Early Maternal Deprivation = emotional damage. Can be reversed if attachment formed before end of critical period
- Emotional damage never reversed if not
- ‘contact comfort’ more important than food when it comes to attachment behaviour