Animal studies

Question 1

Describe the procedure of Lorenz’s study on Imprinting (1935)

Answer 1

• Split goose eggs into 2 batches - 1 hatched naturally, 1 incubator (Lorenz first thing they saw).
• All put in upturned box & then released.

Question 2

What were the findings of Lorenz’s study?

Answer 2

• Once released, natural went to mother, incubator went to Lorenz.
• Irreversible bonds.
• Imprinting occurred shortly after birth (4-25 hours).
• Lorenz’s goslings tried mating with humans.
• Imprinting happens with first moving object seen.

Question 3

What is imprinting?

Answer 3

Innate readiness to develop strong bond with mother, happens at specific time in development (critical period).

Question 4

Describe the procedure of Harlow’s study (1959)

Answer 4

• Studied infant monkeys.
• 2 mothers.
• One half - the wire mother had the milk
• Other half - cloth mother had the milk

Question 5

What were the findings of Harlow’s study?

Answer 5

• All monkeys cuddled & sought comfort from cloth monkey when frightened irrespective of milk.
• Form attachments based on comfort not food.
• Critical period of 90 days to form attachment.

Question 6

What long lasting effects came from this study?

Answer 6

• Monkeys developed abnormally by being deprived of real mother.
• Aggressive, less sociable, abnormal mating, neglected children.