Animal Studies of ATTACHMENTS

Question 1

What are the 2 key studies of animal attachment

Answer 1

Lorenz Imprinting theory- Geese

Harlow Isolation and Surrogate mother study - Monkeys

Question 2

Aim of Lorenz Gosling study (1952)

Answer 2

To investigate the mechanics of imprinting and what they can tell us about attachment

Question 3

Procedure of Lorenz Gosling study (1952)

Answer 3

• Took cutch of goose eggs until about to hatch
• Half of eggs placed under goose mother
• Other half beside himself in an incubator
• upon hatching, Lorenz imitated goose mother quack
• Lorenz then observed behaviour of Goslings

Question 4

Findings of Lorenz Gosling study (1952)

Answer 4

• Geese Followed first moving object they saw during a 12->17 hour critical period of hatching = Imprinting
• Geese Followed Lorenz as a Mother

Question 5

Conclusions of Lorenz Gosling study (1952)

Answer 5

• Unlikely that attachment will form after 32 hours of no imprinting
• Strongest response forms between 12 and 17 hrs after hatching
• Imprinting cannot be reversed, won’t imprint on anything else

-Attachment is innate and is programmed genetically

Question 6

Aim of Harlow’s study on Isolation in Monkeys (1959)

Answer 6

Study mechanisms behind which new born resus monkeys are effected by isolation

Question 7

Procedure of Harlow’s study on Isolation in Monkeys (1959)

Answer 7

• Isolated baby Rhesus monkeys from birth
• Kept in iso for 3, 6, 9mth, 1yr
• Then put with other monkeys to assess attachment behaviour

Question 8

Findings + Conclusion of Harlow’s study on Isolation in Monkeys (1959)

Answer 8

Engaged in Strange behaviour such as:

• Clutching own body, rocking back and forth
• Bullied by other monkeys
• Scared of other monkeys, became aggressive
• Indulged in self mutilation

Therefore Privation is permanently damaging to monkeys.
Longer kept isolated, worse the effects

Question 9

Aim of Harlow’s study on Surrogate Mothers in Monkeys (1959)

Answer 9

To see mechanics by which newborn Rhesus monkeys bond with their mothers

Question 10

Procedure of Harlow’s study on Surrogate Mothers in Monkeys (1959)

Answer 10

• 8 monkeys separated from mothers at birth
• placed in cage with access to 2 surrogate mothers
  a) one mother made of Terry Toweling cloth
  b) one mother made of wire with food attached
• 4 monkeys could get food from wire mothers.
• others got food from wire mother
• Studied for 165 days

Question 11

Findings of Harlow’s study on Surrogate Mothers in Monkeys (1959)

Answer 11

• Both groups spent more time with cloth mother
• Infant only go to wire mother if hungry
• If scared, seek comfort from cloth mother (safe base)

Question 12

Conclusion of Harlow’s study on Surrogate Mothers in Monkeys (1959)

Answer 12

• To develop normally, must form attachment with object they can cling to during first months of life
• Early Maternal Deprivation = emotional damage. Can be reversed if attachment formed before end of critical period
• Emotional damage never reversed if not
• ‘contact comfort’ more important than food when it comes to attachment behaviour