Developmental: Animal Studies Flashcards
What was Lorenz’s study on animal attachments and mechanisms of imprinting?
split goose eggs into 2, one hatched naturally and other in incubator - Lorenz first moving encounter.
Recorded behaviour and marked goslings to distinguish the 2 groups, then places them by their mother in box.
Found naturally hatched followed mother, while incubator followed Lorenz- no bond to natural mother. Also bonds proved irreversible.
- found imprinting occurs first few hours after birth (critical period), also birds would try mate with humans when adults.
S; 20 goose eggs, m; field exp, d; IG
What’s some evaluation of Lorenz’s study?
+ Guitan found chickens that imprinted on yellow gloves, wanted to mate with them but then realised they prefer to mate with other chickens.
- lacks validity - research bias, Lorenz may have interpreted the behaviours to support his theory
- lacks generalisability - birds (not humans) attachment systems might be different - mammals show more emotional attachment
What was Harlows animal study as to whether food or comfort was more important?
Tested whether soft objects serve functions of a mother. 16 baby monkeys with 2 wire model ‘mothers’ (one plain, one cloth-covered). 1st cond, milk dispensed by plain model. 2nd cond, milk dispensed by cloth model.
Found babies would cuddle cloth one more than plain and sought comfort from cloth one when frightened, regardless who dispensed milk. Shows comfort more important to monkeys than food when it come to attachment behaviour.
M; independent groups, d: lab
What was Harlows follow up study on the monkeys?
- Harlow studied these monkeys in adulthood and found they were dysfunctional - more aggressive and less sociable. Also unskilled at mating and, as mothers, rejected their young (attacking/killing them in some cases).
What’s some evaluation for Harlows study?
- lacks generalisability - not representative as humans, human attachment may be different
- unethical
+ lab experiment - so controlled conditions
What’s the IV in Lorenzs study?
Who the goose saw first
What was the DV in Lorenz study?
Who the geese imprinted onto
What was the IV in Harlows study?
Whether the mother was wire or cloth
What was the DV for Harlows study?
The monkeys choice of mother
