Counter- evidence from animal studies

• P- one limitation of the learning theory explanation for attachment is the lack of support from animal studies
• E- for example, Lorenz‘s geese imprinted on first moving object they saw regardless of whether this object was associated with food. Also, if we consider Harlow’s research with monkey‘s there is not support for the importance of food
• E- according to learning theory the monkey‘s should’ve become attached to the ‘wire mothers‘ providing food. However, Harlow found that the monkey’s displayed attachment behaviour towards the soft surrogate mother
• L- this shows that factors other than association with food such as contact comfort are impirantant in the formation of attachment