Animal Studies into Attachment

• Lorenz researched imprinting in geese.
• Imprinting

  An innate readiness to develop a strong bond with the mother, which takes place during a specific time in development.
• Procedure

  Divided a clutch of gosling eggs into two groups:

  1) Remained with mother

  2) Placed in an incubator where the first living thing they see is Lorenz.

  To test imprinting Lorenz put the geese together and were then exposed to Lorenz and their natural mother.
• Findings

  The goslings quickly divided themselves up; 1 group followed Lorenz and the other, their mother.

  Lorenz's brood showed no recognition of their natural mother.

  Lorenz attributed this imprinting to a critical period.
• Critical period

  The attachment to form within a certain time following birth. According to Lorenz, the strongest tendency in duckling is between 13-16 hours. If no attachment is developed within 32 hours, its unlikely any will ever develop.
• Long-term effects of Lorenz's research

  Lorenz found that the process was irreversible- early imprinting is also linked to later reproductive behaviour.

  One goose slept in his bed.
• Lorenz's research links to human attachment as humans also have a critical period (links to Bowlby).
• Harlow researched attachment in monkeys.
• Procedure

  Harlow created 2 wire mother, one wrapped in soft cloth.

  8 infant monkeys were studied for 165 days.

  4 monkeys has milk on the cloth mother and 4 had milk on the wire mother.

  The monkey's behaviour was observed and measure:

  • How long did they spend with each mother?
  • How did they react when afraid?
  • How did they behave when exploring?
• Findings

  Monkeys spent most time with the cloth mum (17-18 hours/day)

  Spent less than 1 hour/day with wire mum.

  When afraid they clung to the cloth mother.

  When playing with toys, stayed with cloth mother.

  They were also more willing to explore with the cloth mother.
• Long term effects on monkeys

  The motherless monkeys developed abnormally.

  Froze or fled when introduced to other monkeys.

  Showed abnormal mating behaviour.

  Didn't cradle their own young: one killed own young/harmed own young.

  These effects could be reversed if monkeys spent time with peers (after 3 months). But if the monkeys spent more than 6 months with only a wire mother, the effects were irreversible.
• Conclusions from Harlow's research

  Food is not as important a factor as comfort in forming in bond.

  How you attach as a child impacts how you behave as an adult.

  All animals have greater needs than just the provision of food.
• Harlow's research links to human attachment as it disproves the learning theory, it supports privation and supports early attachments influencing adult relationships.