ATTACHMENT ( ANIMAL STUDIES : LORENZ & HARLOW )

Question 1

Outline Lorenz’s experiment into Imprinting

Answer 1

AIM :To investigate mechanisms of imprinting where the young follow and form attachment to the first large moving object they see
PROCEDURE : Lorenz split a clutch of goose eggs into two groups. One hatched naturally by the mother and the second hatched in an incubator and Lorenz being the first moving object they saw when hatched . Lorenz marked the goslings which group they were in and placed them under an upturned box. When the box was removed he recorded the following behavior
FINDINGS : Immediately after birth , the naturally hatched goslings followed their mother , while the incubate ones followed Lorenz , same for when the box was removed. These bonds proved to be irreversible . Lorenz noted that imprinting only occurred between 4 and 25 hours after hatching . Lorenz later reported how goslings imprinted onto humans would attempt to mate with humans when they matured
CONCLUSIONS : Imprinting is a form of attachment , exhibited mainly by birds that leave the nest early , whereby close contact is kept with the first large object they meet .

Question 2

EVALUATE LORENZ’S GOSLING EXPERIMENT

Answer 2

STRENGTH
POINT : A strength of lorenz’s study is that its findings have been highly influential within the field of developmental psychology
EXPLAIN / EVIDENCE: The fact that imprinting is seen to be irreversible suggests that attachment formation is under biological control and that attachment formation happens within a specific time frame
LINK : This is a strength because it lead developmental psychologists ( such as Bowlby ) to develop well recognised theories of attachment suggesting the attachment formation takes place during a critical period and is a biological process . Such theories have been highly influential in the way child care is administered today .

LIMITATION
POINT : A weakness of Lorenz’s study is that it can be criticised for extrapolation ( the action of estimating or concluding something by assuming that existing trends will continue or a current method will remain applicable)
EXPLAIN/EVIDENCE : Lorenz conducted his study on imprinting on animals rather than humand
LINK : Humans and animals are psychologically different . The way human infant develops an attachment with their primary caregiver would be different to the way a greylag geese forms an attachment with their primary caregiver , there fore the findings cannot be generalised.

Question 3

Outline Harlow’s experiment ( monkeys )

Answer 3

AIM : to test learning theory by comparing attachment behaviour in baby monkeys given a wire surrogate mother producing milk with those given a soft towelling mother producing no milk .
PROCEDURE : 2 types of surrogate mother were constructed . A harsh ‘wire mother’ a soft ‘travelling mother ‘ .16 baby monkeys were used , with 4 in each of the conditions .
1. A cage containing a wire mother producing milk and a towelling mother producing no milk .
2. A cage containing a wire mother producing no milk and a towelling mother producing milk
3.A cage containing a wire mother producing milk
4. A cage containing a towelling mother producing milk

• the amount of time spent with each mother , as well as feeding time , was recorded .
• the monkeys were frightened with a loud noise to test for mother preference during stress
• a larger cage was used to test the monkey’s level of exploration ( need for proximity )

FINDINGS : Monkeys preferred contact with the towelling mother when given a choice of surrogate motherrs ,regardless of whether she had milk they even stretched across to the wire mother tofeed while still clinging to the towelling mother . Monkeys with only a wire mother had diarrhoea - a sign of stress . Frightened monkeys clung to the cloth mother ,where she was available . Monkeys explored more when a towelling mother was present

CONCLUSIONS : Rhesus monkeys have an innate , unlearned need for comfort suggesting that attachment concerns emotional security more than food.
Contact comfort is associated with lower levels of stress and willingness to explore ,indicating emotional security

Question 4

Evaluate harlow’s monkey experiment ( PEELS x2)

Answer 4

POINT : The ultimate aim of animal studies is to be able to generalise the conclusions to human behaviour .
EXPLANATION : Humans differ because their behaviour is determined by their decisions . A number of studies have found that the observations made of animal attachment behaviour can be applied in studies of humans eg.Harlow’s research is supported by schafer and emerson’s findings that infants were not most attached to the person who fed them .
LINK : This demonstrates that , while animal studies can act as a useful pointer in understanding human behaviour , we should always seek confirmation by looking at research with humans

POINT : Harlow’s study can be seen as unethical
EXPLANATION : Harlow’s study created lasting emotional harm as the monkeys later found it difficult to form relationships with their peers . On the other hand the experiment can be justified in terms of the significant effect it has had on our understanding of the processes of attachment and the research derived has been used to offer better care for human infants
LINK : Therefore it could be argued that the benefits outweigh the costs to the animals involved in the study .