Lorenz’s Geese Study Flashcards
Describe Lorenz’s Geese Study
- Randomly divided a large clutch of geese eggs
- He hatched half with the mother (the control group)
- He hatched the other half in an incubator, where the first moving object they saw was Lorenz
- He then mixed up the two groups to see who the geese would follow (imprint on)
What were Lorenz’s findings in his Geese Study?
The incubator group followed him, whilst the control group hatched with the mother followed her
What is Imprinting?
A phenomenon observed in bird species mobile from birth in which they follow and attach to the first moving object they encounter
What is Sexual Imprinting and a real-world example of it?
When a bird that has imprinted on another species only displays courtship behaviour towards that species (e.g. the study of the peacock that was raised in a reptile house)
What did Lorenz conclude the critical period is for birds?
A few hours
Does Imprinting occur in humans?
No
Can Imprinting be easily reversed?
No, as it is a rapid form of learning that is resistant to change
What is the critical period?
A crucial, fixed time during early development in which a species must develop behaviours that are essential to survival, otherwise they won’t at all
Why has Lorenz’s conclusion that imprinting is irreversible been criticised?
There’s evidence to suggest it is- Guiton et al found that chickens that imprinted on yellow rubber gloves and would attempt to mate with them later learnt to prefer other chickens
What is the main issue with animal studies, such as Lorenz and Harlow’s research?
They are difficult to generalise to humans
What study supports Lorenz’s findings?
Regolin & Vallortigara, who found that chicks that were exposed to simple moving shape combinations imprinted on and followed the first one that they saw
What insight into the basis of attachment behaviour did Lorenz’s research provide?
That it may be rooted in biology, and is an innate instinct that developed as a survival advantage
