Animal studies of attachment

• What do some psychologists study in animal behavior?

  Why animals act the way they do
• Why is animal research useful for studying human behavior?

  Studies on animals are often not possible on humans
• What are the ethical concerns regarding animal research?

  Different mental experiences of animals and humans
• Who conducted influential research on attachment in animals?

  Conrad Lorenz and Harry Harlow
• What did Lorenz investigate in his research?

  Imprinting in gray lag geese
• What did Lorenz do to test imprinting in geese?

  Hatched eggs in an incubator
• What was the critical period for imprinting found by Lorenz?

  32 hours after hatching
• What did Harlow's experiment test?

  The learning theory of attachment
• What were the two types of surrogate mothers in Harlow's experiment?

  Wire mother and cloth mother
• What did Harlow find about the infant monkeys' preferences?

  They preferred the cloth mother for comfort
• What long-term problems did Harlow's monkeys face?

  Issues interacting with other monkeys
• What did Harlow conclude about attachment and feeding?

  Attachment is based on comfort, not food
• How do Lorenz and Harlow's findings relate to human attachment?

  They inform understanding of human attachment processes
• What is Bowlby's concept of a monotropic relationship?

  Infants crave comfort from their mothers
• What is the critical period for human attachment according to Bowlby?

  From 6 to 30 months
• How does the concept of a sensitive period differ from a critical period?

  A sensitive period allows for recovery after damage
• How has knowledge from Harlow and Lorenz influenced childcare practices?

  Encouraging immediate physical contact after birth
• What ethical concerns are associated with Harlow's research?

  Causing suffering to primates
• What is a cost-benefit perspective in evaluating Harlow's research?

  Weighing research benefits against ethical costs
• Why is it important to separate ethical evaluations from data validity?

  Ethics do not determine data accuracy
• What are the main findings of Lorenz's research on imprinting?

  • Imprinting occurs in gray lag geese
  • Critical period of 32 hours for imprinting
  • Goslings follow the first moving object they see
• What are the main findings of Harlow's research on attachment?

  • Monkeys prefer comfort over food
  • Long-term issues from maternal deprivation
  • Attachment is based on physical contact, not feeding
• How do Lorenz and Harlow's findings inform our understanding of human attachment?

  • Similarities in attachment needs
  • Importance of comfort in early relationships
  • Critical and sensitive periods for attachment development
• What are the ethical implications of animal research in psychology?

  • Potential suffering of animal subjects
  • Impact on psychology's public reputation
  • Balancing ethical concerns with research benefits