Lorenz investigated imprinting on baby geese by taking a clutch of baby geese eggs and dividing them into two groups. One group was left with the natural mother and the other group was placed in an incubator. When the incubator eggs had hatched Lorenz made sure he was the first moving figure they saw. After this he marked the two groups and returned them to their natural mother.
Results of Lorenz Geese Study
he found that the geese which had hatched in the incubator continued to follow him, while those that had hatched naturally continued to follow their mother
Conclusion to the Lorenz geese study
Goslings are programmed to imprint onto the first moving object they see, highlighting the rapid formation of attachment in animals
Harlow, monkeys
Harlow investigated the nature of attachment between baby monkeys. 8 rhesus monkeys were placed in a cage with two surrogate mothers, one made of wire and one wrapped in cloth. For half of the monkeys the food was attached to the wire mother, whereas the other half the food was attached to the cloth mother.
Results of the Harlow monkeys study
Monkeys spent most of their time cuddled to the soft cloth-covered mother.
Conclusion to the Harlow monkey study
Monkeys develop attachments based on contact comfort and not based on food
