Lorenz's Goslings

Question 1

Imprinting

Answer 1

Form of attachment where birds attach and follow the first moving object they see.
Has to take place in critical period
Can lead to sexual imprinting-similar mate chosen to that of object they imprinted on

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

Investigate mechanisms of imprinting where youngesters follow and form attachment to first large moving object met

Question 3

Method

Answer 3

1. Split multiple goose eggs into 2 - one hatched naturally by mother other hatched in incubator making sure he was first moving object they see.
2. Marked all goslings so could tell natural/incubator apart + placed them under upturned box. Box removed + behaviour recorded

Question 4

Results

Answer 4

• after birth: natural followed mother, incubator followed him
• released from box: natural to mother, incubator to Lorenz. Showing no bond with natural mother.
• bonds irreversible
• imprinting occurred within critical period (4-24 hours after hatching). If not= no attachment

Question 5

Conclusion

Answer 5

• imprinting is form of atttachment
• attachments are innate + must occur within window of time

Question 6

Sluckin 1966 critical period

Answer 6

Questioned whether here was critical period. Replicated Lorenz’s research using ducklings. Kept one duckling isolated beyond Lorenz’s critical period and found still possible to imprint. Suggests critical period is actually sensitive period- more likely to happen, best time to form

Question 7

Evaluation

Answer 7

1. Difficult to extrapolate to humans- human brain more larger with more connections as birds brain has less folds. Attachment system is diff. Lacks external validity as can’t apply. C- harlows monkeys easier to gen as monkeys have mammal brain

Question 8

Animal studies strengths

Answer 8

1. Human benefits which couldn’t be obtained by using other methods
2. Influenced bowlbys study
3. Similarity in basic physiology and nervous system of nearly all mammals

Question 9

Animal studies limitations

Answer 9

1. Causes suffering to animals, animals have right to be treated with respect and not be harmed
2. Humans diff to other species (more complex brain/emotions) so extrapolation is harder
3. Research provides limited insights

Question 10

What Lorenz investigated in sexual imprinting

Answer 10

• relationship between imprinting + adult male preferences
• found birds who imprinted on humans displayed courtship behaviour towards humans in adulthood
• case study where peacock imprinted on giant tortoises.
• this is sexual imprinting

Question 11

How does sexual imprinting show the importance of early attachments on future relationships?

Answer 11

Attachments formed influenced their mating preference/later attachment

Question 12

Limitations of sexual imprinting research

Answer 12

• case study= unique
• observations= researcher bias, exaggerated behaviours to make evidence fit with what saying
• can’t apply to humans
• unethical- separating from mothers

Question 13

Supporting evidence for sexual imprinting

Answer 13

Guitons- chickens imprinting on yellow rubber gloves would try to mate with them as adults. However chicks eventually learned to mate with other chickens

Question 14

Supporting research strengt/limitation for Lorenz

Answer 14

• doesn’t support as attachment is irrevisable and permanent according to Lorenz.
• does support as they imprinted and tried to mate with rubber glove