Lorenz

Question 1

Aim?

Answer 1

To investigate the initial attachment (of geese)

Question 2

Procedures?

Answer 2

• Divided gosling eggs into 2 groups
• One group left with natural mother
• The other placed in an incubator
• When incubator eggs hatched, first living thing they saw was Lorenz
• Soon started following him around
• Two groups were marked to be distinguished and were placed together
• Lorenz and natural mother present

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

Goslings divided, one group followed natural mother, other followed Lorenz
Lorenz’ brood showed no recognition of natural mother
Imprinting is restricted to a definite period of the animal’s life (critical period)
Animal won’t imprint if it is not exposed to a moving object during critical period

Question 4

Findings (long-lasting effects)

Answer 4

Imprinting is irreversible and long-lasting
(One goose that imprinted on him used to sleep on his bed every night)

Question 5

Evaluation 1 (strength)

Answer 5

• Guiton 1996
• chicks, exposed to rubber gloves while being fed during first few weeks, became imprinted on the gloves
• supports view of young animals not being predisposed to imprint on a specific type of object but on any moving thing present during the critical window of development

Question 6

Evaluation 2 (weakness)

Answer 6

• imprinting is a more “plastic and forgiving mechanism”; Hoffman 1996
• Guiton 1996; able to reverse imprinting in the chickens -> after spending time with own species, could engage in normal sexual behaviour with other chickens
• imprinting may not be different from any other learning; happens rapidly, with little conscious effort and is fairly reversible