Lorenz - Imprinting in geese Flashcards
What is imprinting?
Young animals follow and form an attachment to the first large moving object they see.
What is the aim of Lorenz’s study?
Lorenz wanted to investigate the mechanism of imprinting.
What was the procedure of Lorenz’s study?
12 eggs were kept until they were about to hatch. Half were placed next to Lorenz, and when they hatched he imitated quacking noises. He marked the goslings so he could determine whether they were naturally hatched or not. He put them all in an upturned box then measured how many went to the mother goose and how many went to him. He varied the time between birth and seeing the moving object so he could measure the critical period for imprinting.
What is the results of Lorenz’s experiment?
Incubated followed Lorenz and went straight to him when box was lifted. The critical period for imprinting was between four and twenty five hours and the bonds proved to be irreversible. Goslings who imprinted on humans would attempt to mate with humans as adult birds.
What are the conclusions of Lorenz’s experiment?
Irreversible which suggests that imprinting is an innate process that is biologically triggered. Imprinting is important for later relationships as well as short term survival.
Is Lorenz’s experiment generalisable?
Geese are precocial whereas humans are altricial. Cannot reflect emotional connections.
Limited biological continuity.
Is Lorenz’s experiment reliable?
Standardised procedures so can be replicated.
Does Lorenz’s study have practical applications?
Shows it is important for primary attachment straight after birth. Workplaces have allowed creches for infants.
Does Lorenz’s study have ecological validity?
Artificial as goslings don’t imprint on humans and their development was impacted.
Does Lorenz’s study have ethical issues?
Goslings did not develop normal mating behaviour. Harm outweighs benefits.
