animal studies on attachment

summarise Lorenz’s study:

• ethologist - studied greylag geese

• trained them to imprint on him (and later other moving objects) w/in the critical period: 12-17 hours

• when placed under a cardboard box, those who had first seen (and ∴ imprinted on) their mother followed the mother when cardboard box was lifted

• those who had first seen (and ∴ imprinted on) Lorenz (due to being placed in an incubator) followed Lorenz

how did Lorenz further study attachment?

• later trained greylag geese to imprint on other objects

• sexual imprinting occured - imprinting on a member of a different species caused the geese to attempt to mate w/ them e.g. imprinting on rubber gloves → attempt to mate w/ rubber gloves

summarise Harlow’s study on attachment:

• used Rhesus monkeys

• monkeys nursed by wire mother

• however when scared, monkey went to cloth mother as it provided more comfort

• mother acted as a secure base ∴ monkey exhibited secure base behaviour

• found critical period of 90 days

give 3 strengths of Harlow’s study:

• Green (‘94) - humans and monkeys have same brain structure, only differences are size and connections

• inspired Bowlby to suggest that attachment is innate

• replicable - lab setting

give 4 weaknesses of Harlow’s study:

• problems of extrapolation in attachment to human infants

• difference in nature/complexity between bonds

• unethical - caused emotional harm

• low ecoval due to lab setting

give 1 strength of of Lorenz’s study:

biological theory of imprinting inspired Bowlby to suggest that attachment is innate

give 4 weaknesses of Lorenz’s study:

• problems of extrapolation in attachment in human infants

• difference in nature/complexity of bonds

• unethical - separation from mother may have caused emotional harm

• imprinting is reversible