Animal studies

Question 1

Lorenz’s procedure - imprinting

Answer 1

Classic experiment and randomly divided large clutch of goose eggs
Half the eggs were hatched with mother goose in natural environment and other in incubator where the first moving object was Lorenz

Question 2

Lorenz’s findings

Answer 2

• Incubator group followed Lorenz everywhere
• Control group followed mother - even when mixed

Question 3

Lorenz’s conclusion

Answer 3

Identified critical period in which imprinting needs to take place - can be brief as few hours after birth and if it doesn’t occur, won’t attach to mother

Question 4

Lorenz’s sexual imprinting

Answer 4

Peacock reared in the reptile house of zoo where the first moving object it saw after hatching were giant tortoises - as an adult would only direct courtship towards them - t/f undergone sexual imprinting

Question 5

Strength of Lorenz’s research

Answer 5

Regolin and Vallortigara studied chicks which were exposed to shape combinations that moved
Followed original shape combination most closely

Question 6

Limitation of Lorenz’s research

Answer 6

Lacks generalisability to humans - in mammals it’s a 2 way process so mothers show emotional attachment as well
Inappropriate to generalised Lorenz’s ideas

Question 7

Harlow’s procedure

Answer 7

Reared 16 baby monkeys with two wire model mothers, one plain wire and one cloth covered
1 condition - milk dispensed by plain
2 condition - mild dispensed by cloth

Question 8

Harlow’s findings

Answer 8

Cuddled + sought comfort from cloth covered when frightened regardless of which dispensed milk
‘Contact comfort’ more important than food

Question 9

Harlow - maternal deprivation

Answer 9

Monkeys reared with plain wire were most dysfunctional, did not develop normal social behaviour, more aggressive
Unskilled at mating, some attacked children - sometimes killing

Question 10

Harlow’s conclusion

Answer 10

Critical period for attachment formation - had to be introduced within 90 days
If not damage of early deprivation is irreversible

Question 11

Strengths of Harlow’s research

Answer 11

Helped social workers and clinical psychologists understand risks of lack of bonding experience
Understand importance of attachment figures e.g. adoption/babies in care

Question 12

Limitation of Harlow’s research

Answer 12

Unable to generalise findings and conclusions to humans
Rhesus monkeys more similar than birds but human brain + behaviour is more complex