Animal studies

• Imprinting is the formation of a special bond made by an animal on the first moving thing they see after birth
• Lorenz - Method

  Lorenz investigated imprinting. He took a clutch of goose eggs and split them into two groups. The control was with their natural mother and the experimental were placed in an incubator. When these eggs hatched, the first thing they saw was Lornez whilst for the control group, the first moving thing they saw was their biological mother. The behaviour of the goslings was then observed by Lornez whilst he interacted with them
• Lorenz - Findings


  The incubator group followed Lorenz everywhere whereas the control group followed the mother goose. Lorenz's geese showed no recognition of their natural mother. Lorenz found that a young animal will form an attachment to a moving object it observes in its critical period (up to 2 days for geese). Lack of such means failure to form a primary attachment. He found that animals, especially birds, will choose to mate with the same kind of animal which they were imprinted, sexual imprinting.
• Lorenz - Conclusion

  • Animals form attachment based on imprinting
  • Concluded that imprinting occurs because they have an evolutionary need to form attachments in order to enhance their chances of survival
• Harlow - Method


  Rhesus monkeys, that were raised in isolation until they were 8 months old, in cages with two surrogate mothers. One made of wire and the other dispensed food, milk. The other was made of a wooden block covered in a soft towel to provide comfort