Animal studies and Learning Theory

Question 1

What type of animals were used by Lorenz

Answer 1

Goslings

Question 2

define imprinting

Answer 2

upon birth the animals form an attachment with the first thing they see

Question 3

Findings of Harlow’s monkeys

Answer 3

• preferred cloth mother (comfort) spending 22 hrs with them
• spent less time with wire monkey (food) 2 hrs

Question 4

Harlow’s conclusions

Answer 4

aligns with Schaffer and Emerson
comfort was preferred over food
infants attach to caregivers who respond to their needs etc (contact comfort)

Question 5

Two ethical issues (Harlow’s monkeys)

Answer 5

reared into isolation, not allowed to form attachments with their own kind

later on rejected their own children - long term damage

Question 6

How did Dollard and Miller (1950) explain attachment LT

Answer 6

used operant conditioning claiming learning occurs when there is a motivating factor. Motivations occur naturally, fulfilled = reinforced.
food is a primary reinforcer - thus provider = attachment becomes secondary reinforcer = attachment is formed

Question 7

define two types of conditioning LEARNING THEORY

Answer 7

operant = learning through motivation / reinforcement

Classical = behaviour is learned through association