Animal studies

Lorenz and Harlow

Lorenz’s research

* Investigates the ==evolutionary explanations of attachment==, suggesting infants are pre-programmed to form an attachment

Lorenz procedure

* Split ^^12 goose eggs^^ into two batches. ==One batch hatched naturally with mother + the other hatched in an incubator== and Lorenz made sure he was the first moving object encountered
* Lorenz ==marked the goslings== so he knew whether hatched naturally or in the incubator
* Placed all under an upturned box, and then released them and recorded their behaviour

Lorenz findings

* Naturally hatched baby goslings ==followed and went straight to the mother== whilst incubator babies ==followed and went straight to Lorenz== (showing no bond to natural mother)
* ==The bonds proved to be irreversible== (they would only follow their first mother)
* Lorenz noticed process of imprinting occurred a short period after birth (^^between 4 and 25 hours)^^

Lorenz conclusions

* Critical period- if imprinting did not occur within that time then they did not attach themselves to a mother
* Suggesting ==attachment is innately programmed==

Harlow research

* Belief that attachments are ==formed through learning==
* And ==importance of ‘food giving’== in attachment formation

Harlow procedure

* ^^16^^ baby monkeys with 4 in each condition
* Two types of surrogate mother- ==Harsh wire mother and soft towelling mother==
* Cage containing wire mother producing milk and towelling mother with no milk
* Cage containing wire mother producing no milk and towelling mother producing milk
* Cage containing wire mother producing milk
* Cage containing towelling mother producing milk
* Amount of ==time spent with each mother and feeding time was recorded==
* Monkeys were also frightened with loud noises to test for preference during stress

Harlow findings

* Monkeys ==preferred contact with the towelling mother== when given the choice (regardless of milk production)
* Monkeys even stretched across the wire monkey to feed while clinging to the towelling mother ==(providing comfort)==
* Monkeys with only wire mother suffered diarrhoea (stress)
* When ==frightened they clung to towelled mother==
* In larger cage conditions, monkeys with towelling mothers ==explored and visited surrogate mother more==

Harlows conclusions

* Suggested ==contact + comfort was more important== than food with attachment behaviour
* As adults, monkeys deprived of real mother were ==aggressive, less social and less skilled at mating==

AO3- Lorenz- Limitation

* ==Generalising birds to humans==
* Mammalian system of attachment is different to a birds
* For example ==mammalian mothers show more attachment to their young==
* This shows a different between the two systems
* Therefore means it is not appropriate to generalise Lorenz’s ideas to humans as ==the findings and conclusions cant be directly applied==

AO3- Lorenz- Limitation

* His ==observations have been questioned== and his conclusions
* For example idea that imprinting has a permanent effect on mating behaviour
* Guitton et al found chickens who imprinted on yellow washing up gloves would try to mate with them as adults ==but with that experience they learned to mate with other chickens==
* Suggests ==impact of imprinting is not as permanent as Lorenz said==

AO3- Harlow- Strength

* There is practical value
* Harlows research provides insight to practical contexts + important application
* For example, ==helps social workers understand risk factors for abuse and neglect== + intervene to protect (Howe 1998)
* Findings also important in the ==care of captive monkeys as now understand the importance of proper attachment figures== within zoos + breeding programs
* therefore this displays the importance of his research for both human + animal application

AO3-Harlow- Limitation

* Ethical issues with Harlows research as monkeys suffered greatly (long term) as a result
* The species is considered similar enough to generalise findings so there fore can also link suffering
* Harlow was also aware himself of the consequences + results of his actions
* For example, he referred to the wire mothers as ‘iron maidens’ after a medieval torture device
* Therefore shows the research was unethical and reduces the validity of Harlow