weaknesses/criticisms

• can't generalise to humans

  -humans are capable of more complex thought processes

  -human behaviour governed by conscious decisions

  -humans born more helpless & "incomplete" with very immature brains

  -bonding & growing takes place over longer periods

  -should always seek to replicate research in humans
• imprinting now seen as more flexible / simplistic


  -Guiton found that he could reverse imprinting in chickens who had initially tried to mate with rubber gloves

  -he found after spending time with their own species, they were able to engage in normal sexual behaviour with other chickens

  -Lorenz's theory is too simplistic as fails to take later learning into account