Animal Studies

Question 1

LORENZ

Answer 1

LORENZ

• randomly divided clutch of goose eggs
• half hatched with mother, half hatched in incubator where Lorenz was first thing they saw
• incubcator (experimental) group followed Lorenz around
• control group followed mother
• remain same when groups were mixed
• imprinting - critical period of 32 hours, depends on species
• sexual imprinting - peacock imprinted onto tortoise and displayed courtship behaviour
• attachment behaviours are inherited/innate
• evolutionary
• for survival - food, protection

Question 2

HARLOW

Answer 2

HARLOW

• rhesus monkeys separated from mothers at birth
• 8 could get milk from wire mother, other 8 could get milk from cloth mother
• both groups spent more time with cloth mother
• when scared, cling onto cloth mother
• more exploration with cloth mother
• contact comfort > food,
• early maternal deprivation → emotional damage, but could be reversed before crticial period end
• maternally deprived (past critical period) - timid, aggressive, difficulty mating, females ‘inadequate’ mothers (killed offspring)
• critical period: 90 days

Question 3

EVALUATIONS

Answer 3

EVALUATIONS

• Lacks generalisability
• Impact of imprinting on mating behaviour may not be permanent - Guiton
• Real life applications/Theoretical value
• Ethical issues

Question 4

EVAL: Lacks generalisability

Answer 4

Lacks generalisability

• mammalian attachment system different and more complex
• humans two-way emotional bond, different in birds
• monkeys more similar but human brain is more complex
• not appropriate to generalise to humans

Question 5

EVAL: Impact on imprinting on mating behaviour may not be permanent

Answer 5

Impact on imprinting on mating behaviour may not be permanent

• Guiton found that chickens imprinted on gloves and would try to mate with them as adults ( as Lorenz predicted)
• but with experience, they eventually learned to prefer mating with other chickens

Question 6

EVAL: Real-life applications/Theoretical value

Answer 6

Real-life applications/Theoretical value

• social workers understand risk factors of neglect and abuse cases and can recongise/prevent it
• practical use in zoo breeding, parenting
• Harlows finds help wider society
• emotional element to attachment understood, not just food

Question 7

EVAL: Ethical issues

Answer 7

Ethical issues

• rhesus similar to humans so suffering they encountered was presumably very human like
• severe long term effects
• some argue findings important enough to justify ethical issues