Animal studies

• Lorenz study:

  aim: To examine the phenomenon of imprinting in non-human animals (where offspring follows and forms an attachment bond to first large moving object they see after birth)
• Lorenz study:

  method: Lorenz conducted an experiment where he randomly divided greylag goose eggs into two batches. One batch, the control group, hatched naturally by mother. Second batch, experimental group, were placed in an incubator, with Lorenz making sure he was first large moving object that goslings saw after hatching. Following behaviour, of either the mother goose or Lorenz was recorded. Lorenz then marked goslings to know conditions they were hatched and placed them under upside down box. Box was removed and behaviour of mother goose and Lorenz was recorded
• Lorenz study:

  results: Lorenz found that straight after birth naturally-hatched goslings followed their mother goose, whereas incubator-hatched goslings followed Lorenz, showing no attachment to their biological mother. Lorenz noted this imprinting only occurred within critical period of 4-25 hours after hatching. Relationship persisted over time and proved to be irreversible
• Lorenz study:

  Conclusion: results suggest that imprinting is form of attachment that is exhibited by birds that typically leave nest early, whereby they imprint onto first large moving object they encounter after hatching
• Lorenz study: Evaluation

  studied on non-human animals- sample of grey lag geese- we can’t generalise results to humans since we are unable to conclude that they would behave in exactly same way. Attachment formation in mammals appears to be very different to that of bird species with parents, specifically mothers, showing more emotional reactions to their offspring with added ability of being able to form attachments beyond first few hours after birth
• Lorenz study: Evaluation

  Later research casted doubt to some conclusions of Lorenz. For example, Guiton et al found that chickens would imprint on yellow washing up gloves if that was largest moving object they first saw after birth and that, in turn, they would try to mate with that object in adulthood. However, Guiton disagreed with Lorenz predictions that this relationship persists and is irreversible since, with experience, chickens could eventually learn to prefer mating with other chickens instead, suggesting that effects of imprinting may not be as permanent as initially thought
• Harlow study:

  aim: To examine extent to which contact comfort and food influences behaviour in baby rhesus monkeys
• Harlow study:

  Method: construction of 2 surrogate mothers: one wire mother who is harsh and soft towelling mother. Sample of 16 rhesus baby monkeys were used across 4 caged conditions:

  1. Wire mother dispensing milk and towelling mother with no milk
  2. wire mother with no milk and towelling mother dispensing milk
  3. wire mother dispensing milk
  4. towelling mother dispensing milk

  Amount of time spent with each mother was recorded, to test preference monkeys were startled with loud noise and responses recorded
• Harlow study:

  Results: Harlow discovered that, when given choice of surrogate mothers, they preferred towelling mother irrespective of whether milk was dispensed or not. Baby monkeys in condition with only ‘wore mother’ showed signs of stress such as diarrhoea. When startled, baby monkeys would cling tightly to towelling mother
• Harlow study:

  Conclusion: Harlow concluded that baby monkeys appear to have innate drive to seek contact comfort from their parent suggesting that attachment is formed through emotional need for security rather than food, which is in contrast to learning theory explanation. Contact comfort provided ny mother is associated by higher willingness to explore their surroundings and lower levels of stress
• Harlow study: Evaluation

  Provides insight into attachment formation. Important real world application, for example, Howe (1998) reports that knowledge gained from Harlows research has helped social workers understand risk factors in neglect and abuse cases with human children which can serve to prevent it occurring. Practical application such as in care of captive wild monkeys in zoos or breeding programmes to ensure they have adequate attachment figures
• Harlows study: Evaluation

  Ethics of research. Monkeys suffered greatly in terms of emotional separation from their biological mother At such early age due to Harlow procedure. If species of primates were considered to be sufficiently human-like to generalise results beyond sample used then it stands to reason that effects of psychological harm that they will have endured are similar to that of human baby also.
• Harlow study: Evaluation

  issue with applying findings from animals research to humans. Although participants of Harlows research were baby monkeys which are non-human. It could be argued that they are far more human like than geese in Lorenz study. Should be generalised to human population due to apparent differences