Animal studies of attatchment

Question 1

Who carried out Animal studies on attachment?

Answer 1

Lorenz (1935) and Harlow (1959)

Question 2

What was the aim of Lorenz’s (1935) study?

Answer 2

To investigate how geese form an attachment.

Question 3

What was the procedure of Lorenz’s (1935) study?

Answer 3

Randomly divided greylag goose eggs into two groups. One group was left with the mother and the others were left in an incubator with Lorenz

Question 4

What were the results of Lorenz’s (1935) study?

Answer 4

The goslings from the incubator followed Lorenz round in the same way that the other goslings followed their mother around. Once the two groups were combined, they reformed and found their mothers

Question 5

What was the conclusion of Lorenz’s (1935) study?

Answer 5

Infants are affected by imprinting (attaching to first moving thing they see) If this didn’t happen in 32 hours it was too late to happen

Question 6

What was the aim of Harlow’s (1959) Study?

Answer 6

Investigate whether baby monkeys would prefer a source of food or source of comfort

Question 7

What was the procedure of Harlow’s (1959) Study?

Answer 7

Two surrogate mothers were presented, one was made of wire mesh and contained a bottle, the other had soft cloth but no bottle

Question 8

What were the results of Harlow’s (1959) Study?

Answer 8

Monkeys spent most of their time clinging onto the cloth mother and only used the wire to feed. The cloth provided comfort

Question 9

What was the conclusion of Harlow’s (1959) Study?

Answer 9

Infants form more of an attachment with the figure that provides comfort

Question 10

Strengths of Animal Studies

Answer 10

Strength of Lorenz’s research is evidence to support imprinting - Reggolin and Vallortigara with chicks

Harlow’s study had significant theoretical value to the psychological understanding of attachment - helped social workers understand factors in child abuse / neglect

Insight into attachment from Harlow’s study into attachment has applications in practical contexts. Monkeys suffered, and as they are similar to humans we can generalise their findings

Question 11

Weaknesses of animal studies

Answer 11

Testing on animals may mean his findings cannot be generalised to humans

Harlow’s study questioned ethically - put a lot of monkeys through severe distress