Imprinting" is the English term for this behavior. - **Examples of Imprinting:** When mother geese are absent, goslings will imprint on large moving objects like balls or boxes, or even Lorenz himself. # Temperament and Social Development ## Emotional Styles of Babies - **Variability in Social Interaction Styles:** Infants show a wide range of social styles including friendliness, shyness, and aloofness. - **Reflection of Temperament:** These differences are rooted in temperament (Mervielde et al., 2005). - **Genetic Basis:** Temperament is largely genetically influenced, but prenatal stress can affect it (Baibazarova et al., 2013; van den Heuvel et al., 2015). ## Major Temperamental Styles Identified - **Research by Thomas and Chess (1977):** Three major temperamental categories: - **Easy Infants (40%):** Adaptable and relaxed. - **Difficult Infants (10%):** Fussy and easily frustrated. - **Slow-to-Warm-Up Infants (15%):** Initially disturbed by new stimuli but gradually adjust. - **Remaining 35%:** Do not neatly fall into any of these categories. ## Stability of Temperament - **Findings from Research:** Temperament tends to remain stable throughout infancy (Bornstein et al., 2015). - **Influence of Caregiver Interaction:** An infant's temperament shapes interactions with caregivers (Dunn & Kendrick, 1980; Lee & Bates, 1985). - **Interaction Dynamics:** Caregiver behavior subsequently shapes the infant's temperament, illustrating the nature-nurture interaction. - **Perception of Infants:** Infants who laugh more are perceived as cuter by adults (Parsons et al., 2014). ## Behavioral Inhibition - **Definition by Jerome Kagan (2007):** A style characterized by fearfulness at stimuli like unfamiliar faces or loud noises. - **Similarities to Animals:** Compared to "scaredy cats" that hide from new stimuli. - **Physiological Response:** Frightened infants exhibit increased heart rate, muscle tension, and amygdala activation (Schwartz et al., 2003). - **Prevalence of Behavioral Inhibition:** Approximately 10% of children demonstrate this temperament style (see Figure 9.13). # Differences Between Imprinting and Human Attachment - **Human Attachment vs. Imprinting:** Unlike geese, human infants do not automatically bond to the first moving object (no automatic imprinting). - **Similar Concepts:** - Human infants develop strong bonds with caregivers shortly after birth through a 'softer' form of imprinting. - **Critical Periods in Imprinting:** - As discovered by Lorenz, imprinting occurs during a critical time frame (Almli & Finger, 1987). - **Critical Window Duration:** Initially reported by Lorenz as 36 hours; if not occupied, goslings do not imprint. - **Contemporary Understanding:** Critical periods are often seen as sensitive periods in living beings with flexible behaviors, such as humans, cats, and dogs (Bruer, 1999). - **Implication of Sensitive Periods:** These periods suggest a potential for strong bonding and development when certain experiences occur within the appropriate timeframe. # Critical and Sensitive Periods - **Imprinting in Geese:** - Imprinting occurs during a critical period specified by Lorenz as 36 hours, meaning if the offspring does not encounter the figure during this time, imprinting fails. - Studies indicate that critical periods are less rigid than initially believed and have been updated to sensitive periods in more complex species like mammals, including humans (Bruer, 1999). - **Implication of Sensitive Periods:** Highlights the importance of timely experiences for the healthy development of social and attachment behaviors in mammals, potentially affecting bonding, social and emotional development.