AO1

• Lorenz

  Lorenz investigated imprinting by observing a clutch of geese that he divided into 2 groups. One group stayed with their mother, and another was hatched in an incubator and saw Lorenz when they hatched. The geese followed who they saw when they first hatch, their mother or Lorenz. Lorenz outlined a critical period that an animal must imprint by or it will never imprint. He also identified some long lasting effects of imprinting; it is irreversible and the concept of sexual imprinting.
• Harlow

  Harlow investigated the motives behind animals forming attachment, specifically to contradict the learning theory. Monkeys were given the choice of a wire, food mother or a cloth, comfort mother. Monkeys spent most of their time with the cloth mother and ran to it when scared, however never formed a real attachment. This supports the importance of attachment between an infant and cargiver. They went on to have problems with gaining weight as they weren't shown affection, which suggests that attachment has a large impact on development.