Attachment: Animal Studies

Question 1

Lorenz’s Animal Study.

Answer 1

Aim: Investigated attachment in geese (imprinted).

Procedure: Lorenz set up a classical experiment where a group of goose eggs were randomly divided. Half eggs would hatch with mother geese in natural environment, whereas other half would hatch in an incubator and Lorenz would be the first moving object they see.

Findings: Incubator group followed Lorenz everywhere and controlled group followed the mother goose even if the group were mixed the geese still followed their original imprint.

Conclusion: Geese imprint on the first moving object that they see.

Question 2

Lorenz’s Evaluation: Generalisability To Humans

Answer 2

• Lorenz investigated imprinting in birds.
• There are problems with generalisability findings from birds to humans.
• Attachment style in mammals is different to birds e.g emotional attachment.

Question 3

Lorenz’s Evaluation: Observation Have Been Questioned.

Answer 3

• Later research has queried Lorenz’s research.
• Guiton et al found that sexual imprinting did not have a permanent effect on mating behaviour.
• Chickens that imprinted on yellow rubber gloves and attempted to mate with them, eventually realised they preferred other chickens.

Question 4

Harlow’s Animal Study.

Answer 4

Aim: To investigate attachment in new-born rhesus monkeys.

Procedure: 16 monkeys were reared with 2 wire model ‘mothers’. One condition milk was dispensed by the wire mother, in other condition the milk was dispensed by cloth mother.

Findings: Baby monkeys cuddled the soft object in preference to wire object regardless of which dispensed milk.

Conclusion: Contact comfort was more important to the monkeys than food. A critical period was identified of 90 days.

Question 5

Harlow’s Evaluation: Theoretical Value.

Answer 5

• Harlow’s findings had a profound effect on the understanding of human attachment.
• Showed that contact comfort was priority in attachment development over food.
• Showed importance of quality of early relationships in social development.

Question 6

Harlow’s Evaluation: Practical Value.

Answer 6

• Harlow’s findings have had important application.
• Helped social workers understand risk factors in child neglect and therefore help with intervention.
• Findings were important for captive monkeys in care.

Question 7

Harlow’s Evaluation: Ethical Issues.

Answer 7

• The monkeys suffered as a result of the procedures.
• If the species is similar enough to be generalise results the suffering is likely to be human-like.
• Harlow was aware of the suffering is likely to be human-like and even named mother after a torture device ‘iron maiden.’
• Counterargument: results was important enough to justify the suffering.