Lorenz Imprinting AO3

Question 1

HARD TO GENERALISE

Answer 1

Point: hard to generalise findings on birds to humans
Explain: The mammalian attachment system seems to be quite different from that in
birds (e.g. mammalian mothers show more emotional attachment to young
than birds do, and mammals may be able to form attachments at any time,
END: low external validity, can use Lorenz’s ideas to humans

Question 2

DISPUTE ABT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF IMPRINTING

Answer 2

Point: There is some dispute over the characteristics of imprinting.
Evidence: Guiton (1966) found
that he could reverse the imprinting in chickens that had previously tried to
mate with yellow rubber gloves (due to imprinting). He found that, later, after
spending time with their own species, they were able to engage in normal
sexual behaviour with other chickens.
END:suggests that the impact of imprinting
on mating behaviour is not as permanent or
irreversible as Lorenz believed.

Question 3

Other studies support this claim

Answer 3

Point: Several other studies have demonstrated imprinting in animals.
Explain: Researcher showed that leghorn chicks, exposed to
yellow rubber gloves while being fed during the first few weeks, became
imprinted on the gloves. Guiton also found that the male chickens later tried to
mate with the gloves.
END: young animals will imprint onto anything that is present during critical period. External validity to other animals