> attachment: animal studies

Question 1

animal studies of attachment background:

Answer 1

-early research into attachments was conducted on animals
-such studies often conducted on the basis that there was bioloical continuity between humans + animals, so what was true for animals would also be true for humans
-regarded as being more ethical than being conducted on humans.

Question 2

what did Lorenzs study suggest?

Answer 2

organisms have biological propensity to form attachments to one single object

Question 3

outline method of Lorens study

Answer 3

-goslings were hatched either with their mother/incubator, once hatched, they proceeded to follow the first moving object, they saw between 13-16 hours after hatching, in this case, Lorenz
-supports view that having a biological basis for an attachment is adaptive as it promotes survival
-would explain why goslings imprint after a matter of minutes due to their increased mobility, human babies are often born immobile therefore less call for them to form an attachment straight away

Question 4

implications of Lorens study?

Answer 4

-imprinted on so irreversibly in early life -> operating during critical period
-longevity of goslings bond supports that attachment experiences predict future bonds
-instinctive behaviour suggests attachments are biologically programmed into species according to adaptive pressures e.g. mobility from birth

Question 5

What Sluckin do?

Answer 5

-questioned whether there was actually a critical period
-repeating Lorenz’s study but using ducklings, successfully imprinting them onto himself, keeping one in isolation past 5 days (Lorenzs reported critical period)
-found it was still possible to imprint + concluded the critical period was actually sensitive period

Question 6

define critical period, when is it?

Answer 6

set time period in which imprinting must occur or it never will

Question 7

define sensitive period

Answer 7

a time best for imprinting to perform but one beyond which attachments could still be formed