AO3

• Strength: Lorenz:

  • A strength of Lorenz's research is the support from further evidence for imprinting.
  • For example, Regolin and Vallortigara found that chicks exposed to moving shape combinations followed the original shape most closely.
  • This supports Lorenz’s theory that young animals have an innate mechanism to imprint on the first moving object they see, aiding survival by forming attachments with caregivers.
  • This reinforces Lorenz's research by providing empirical support to his theory of imprinting.
• Weakness: Lorenz:

  • A weakness of Lorenz's research is that it is criticised for extrapolation, causing the findings to not be generalised to humans.
  • For instance, Geese and humans differ significantly in physiology and emotional complexity. Unlike birds, mammals form complex emotional bonds, making human attachment more influenced by emotional factors than instinctive imprinting.
  • This limits the applicability of Lorenz’s findings to human attachment, reducing their relevance to psychology.
• Weakness: Lorenz:

  • A weakness of Lorenz’s research is that later studies have questioned the permanence of imprinting effects.
  • For example, Guiton found that chickens who imprinted on yellow washing-up gloves and initially tried to mate with them, later learned to prefer other chickens with experience.
  • This suggests that imprinting is not as permanent as Lorenz claimed, as learning can modify early behaviors, challenging his conclusions and reducing the credibility of his findings.
• Strength: Harlow:

  • A strength of Harlow’s research is its real-world applications.
  • For instance, his findings demonstrated the importance of early attachment bonds for healthy development in monkeys.
  • This has helped psychologists understand the risks of neglect and intervene to prevent poor outcomes in children. It also informs better care practices for baby monkeys in zoos and breeding programs.
  • This practical value highlights the significance of Harlow’s research for improving both human and animal welfare.
• Weakness: Harlow:

  • A weakness of Harlow's research is the ethical issues it raises.
  • For example, the monkeys experienced significant distress when separated from their mothers, leading to long-term harm, such as difficulties socializing, communicating, and mating.
  • This breached BPS ethical guidelines by failing to protect the monkeys from harm, raising serious concerns about their welfare.
  • Therefore, while the research provided valuable insights into attachment, the ethical concerns limit its justification and practical application.
• Weakness: Harlow:

  • A weakness of Harlow's research is that the findings from monkeys cannot be fully generalised to humans.
  • Humans have more complex emotional and cognitive attachment requirements than monkeys
  • For example, Bowlby found that a ‘warm, intimate, continuous relationship’ is crucial for normal and healthy attachment.
  • Therefore, by suggesting humans form attachment on the basis of contact comfort alone, Harlow’s research is limited in its applicability to our understanding of human attachment.