Lesson 10 - Lorenz (1935)

Question 1

Lorenz (1939)

Answer 1

Konrad Lorenz was an ethologist (studies animal behaviour)
Investigated imprinting
Instinct in several species of animals to attach to the first moving thing they see after they are born

Question 2

Lorenz (1939) Procedure

Answer 2

Took a clutch of geese eggs and divided them into two groups
One group was left to hatch with their natural mother
Other group placed in an incubator
When eggs in incubate hatched, first moving thing seen was Lorenz
Lorenz marked the two groups to distinguish them and placed them all together again

Question 3

Lorenz (1939) Findings

Answer 3

Geese divided themselves into groups, one followed their natural mother and the other Lorenz
Geese in incubator showed no recognition of natural mother
Found process of imprinting is restricted to a very definite period of a young animal’s life, critical period
If you have an animal that is not exposed to a moving object during the early critical period then the animal will not imprint
Animals imprint on consistently moving things during first two days
Imprinting similar to attachment
Taught geese to swim and always returned when he called

Question 4

Lorenz (1939) Long-Term Effects

Answer 4

Noted several features improving
One goose that imprinted on him slept on his bed every night
Also discovered early imprinting effects on later mate preferences, sexual imprinting
Animals choose to mate with same kind of object which they were imprinted

Question 5

Lorenz (1935) Evaluation Points

Answer 5

Gutton (1966)

Reversible

Question 6

Lorenz (1935) Evaluation
Gutton (1966)
Positive

Answer 6

Studies support idea that animals are born with an instinct to attach to the first moving object they see
Gutton (1966) demonstrated chickens exposed to yellow rubber gloves during feeding in their first few weeks of life imprinted on the gloves

Question 7

Lorenz (1935) Evaluation
Reversible
Negative

Answer 7

Imprinting is more reversible than Lorenz thought
Gutton (1966) found he could reverse imprinting in chickens that tried to mate with the yellow rubber gloves
After spending time with their own species, they were able to engage in normal sexual behaviour with other chickens.