Animal studies of attachment

• Imprinting- A form of behaviour in which a very young animal fixes its attention on the first object with which it has visual, and follows the moving object
• Ethology- Ethology is where we learn about human psychology from studying other animals
• Critical period- A fixed and crucial time during the early development of a creature when it is able to learn things, form an attachment which are essential to survival.
• Sexual imprinting- Sexual imprinting helps to determine animals' sexual preferences with regards to finding a mate.
• Attachment- An emotional bond between two people that develops over time as they spend more time together
• Aim Lorenz (1935) investigated the mechanisms of imprinting, where some species of animals form an attachment to the first large moving object.
• Procedure

  Lorenz conducted an experiment to study imprinting in animals, specifically geese. He took a batch of fertilized eggs and divided them into two groups. The control group hatched with their mother in their natural environment, while the experimental group hatched in an incubator, where the first moving object they saw was Lorenz himself. Lorenz wanted to investigate how imprinting affected attachment and whether the goslings would bond with him as their first caregiver rather than their biological mother.
• Findings

  Lorenz found that after hatching, the goslings followed the first moving object they saw. When the goslings from both the experimental group (hatched in the incubator) and the control group (hatched with their mother) were mixed and released, they still followed their respective "attachment figures." The goslings from the experimental group followed Lorenz, while the control group followed their biological mother. This demonstrated imprinting, a process in which young animals form a strong bond with the first moving object they see shortly after birth.
• Key Principles Developed by Lorenz: 1. Critical Period: Lorenz identified a critical period (12-17 hours after birth) during which imprinting must occur. Beyond this period (after 32 hours), imprinting is unlikely. 2. Imprinting: A behavior in which a young animal fixes its attention on the first moving object it sees, which leads to attachment. Evolutionary Benefit of Imprinting: Imprinting helps animals, like geese (precocial species), who are born mobile and alert, to survive by learning from and following their caregiver.
• What was the aim of Harlow's research in 1958?


  To study how newborn rhesus monkeys form bonds with their mothers
• What was the procedure used in Harlow's experiment?


  He used 16 baby rhesus monkeys separated from their mothers and placed them with two surrogate mothers
• What were the two types of surrogate mothers used in Harlow's experiment?


  • Plain wire mother (provided food through a bottle)
  • Cloth-covered mother (soft but provided no food)
• How did Harlow measure the monkeys' preferences in his experiment?


  By measuring the time the monkeys spent with each surrogate mother
• What was a significant finding regarding the time spent by the baby monkeys with the cloth mother?


  They spent most of their time (22 hours) cuddling the cloth mother
• What behavior did the monkeys exhibit when frightened?


  They sought comfort from the cloth mother
• How much time did the monkeys spend with the wire mother?


  About 2 hours
• What conclusion did Harlow draw from his research regarding attachment formation?


  Contact comfort was more important than food in forming attachments
• What were the long-term effects of maternal deprivation observed in Harlow's study?


  • Failed to develop normal social behavior
  • More aggressive and less sociable
  • Neglected or attacked their offspring as mothers
• What critical period did Harlow identify for attachment formation?


  90 days
• What happens if attachment is not formed within the critical period identified by Harlow?


  It becomes impossible to form an attachment, and early deprivation damage is irreversible
• What was the aim of Harlow's research in 1958?


  To study how newborn rhesus monkeys form bonds with their mothers
• What was the procedure used in Harlow's experiment?


  He used 16 baby rhesus monkeys separated from their mothers and placed them with two surrogate mothers
• What were the two types of surrogate mothers used in Harlow's experiment?


  • Plain wire mother (provided food through a bottle)
  • Cloth-covered mother (soft but provided no food)
• How did Harlow measure the monkeys' preferences in his experiment?


  By measuring the time spent with each surrogate mother
• How much time did the baby monkeys spend with the cloth mother?

  22 hours
• What behavior did the monkeys exhibit when frightened?


  They sought comfort from the cloth mother
• How much time did the monkeys spend with the wire mother?


  About 2 hours
• What conclusion did Harlow draw from his findings?


  Contact comfort was more important than food in forming attachments
• What were the long-term effects of maternal deprivation observed in Harlow's study?


  • Failed to develop normal social behavior
  • More aggressive and less sociable
  • Neglected or attacked their offspring
  • Some even killed their young
• What critical period did Harlow identify for attachment formation?


  90 days
• What happens if attachment is not formed within the critical period identified by Harlow?


  The damage caused by early deprivation becomes irreversible
• What did Regolin & Vallortigara (1995) find regarding imprinting in chicks?


  Chicks imprinted on simple moving shapes like a triangle
• How does Regolin & Vallortigara's study support Lorenz's idea of imprinting?


  It shows that young animals have an innate mechanism to follow moving objects
• What is a limitation of generalizing Lorenz's findings to humans?


  Human attachment is complex and involves emotional bonding, unlike simple following behavior in goslings
• What is a key difference between human attachment and the behavior seen in goslings?


  Human attachment is two-way (parent-child), while goslings exhibit simple following behavior
• Why is Harlow's research considered to have real-world value?


  It shows that early experiences are crucial for development and emotional bonding
• How does Harlow's research influence psychologists' approach to early development?


  It informs them that emotional bonding is as important as meeting physical needs
• What is a limitation regarding the generalizability of Harlow's findings to humans?


  There are key differences in brain structure and connections between monkeys and humans
• What ethical concerns are associated with Harlow's study?


  It involved separating infant monkeys from their mothers, causing distress
• Why do the ethical concerns in Harlow's study raise questions about the justification of such experiments?


  The harm caused to the monkeys raises concerns about the ethics of the research