AO1 - Lorenz

• Lorenz’s research suggests that organisms have a biological propensity to form attachments.
• Lorenz (1952) conducted an experiment in which goslings were hatched either with their mother or in an incubator.
• Once goslings had hatched they proceeded to follow the first moving object that they saw between 13 & 16 hours after hatching; in this case, Lorenz.
• Lorenz (1952) supports the view that having a biological basis for an attachment is adaptive as it promotes survival.
• Lorenz suggests goslings imprint after a matter of minutes due to their increased mobility.
• Lorenz demonstrates 'imprinting' using baby goslings.
• Imprinting has consequences, both for short-term survival, and in the longer term forming internal templates for later relationships.
• To ensure imprinting had occurred Lorenz put all the goslings together and allowed them to mix. He observed how each group separated to go to their respective 'mothers' - half to the goose, and half to Lorenz.
• Hess (1958) showed that although the imprinting process could occur as early as one hour after hatching, the strongest responses occurred between 12 and 17 hours after hatching.
• Lorenz (1952) set up a classic experimental method to test his idea of imprinting using baby goslings.
• Lorenz divided a clutch of goose eggs; half were hatched naturally with their mother and half in an incubator with him.