Lorenz's geese

• Who was one of the most prominent ethologists in the early 20th century?

  Konrad Lorenz
• What did Lorenz's research inform psychologists about?

  Caregiver-infant attachment in humans
• What phenomenon did Lorenz first observe as a child?

  Imprinting
• What did Lorenz do with the goose eggs in his experiment?

  He randomly divided them into two groups
• What was the first moving object the incubator group of geese saw?

  Lorenz
• What did Lorenz find when he mixed the two groups of geese?

  The control group followed their mother
• What is the term for the phenomenon where birds attach to the first moving object they see?

  Imprinting
• What did Lorenz identify as necessary for imprinting to occur?

  A critical period after hatching
• What happens if imprinting does not occur within the critical period?

  Chicks do not attach to a mother figure
• What type of bird species did Lorenz study regarding imprinting?

  Geese and ducks
• What is sexual imprinting in the context of Lorenz's research?

  It refers to the attachment to a mate
• What are the key findings of Lorenz's imprinting research?

  • Imprinting occurs in a critical period
  • First moving object seen is followed
  • Control group follows the mother
  • Experimental group follows Lorenz
• How did Lorenz's findings impact understanding of attachment in humans?

  • Highlighted importance of early relationships
  • Suggested critical periods for attachment
  • Influenced theories of human attachment