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Fun with Animal Imprinting: Lorenz's Geese and Harlow's Monkeys!

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Amy Breen

27/10/2025

Psychology

Animal studies of attachment

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27 Oct 2025

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Fun with Animal Imprinting: Lorenz's Geese and Harlow's Monkeys!

user profile picture

Amy Breen

@amybreen_ikkr

Konrad Lorenz's imprinting experiment and Harry Harlow's monkey study are... Show more

Procedure:
.He randomly divided a clutch of goose eggs.
.Half were hatched with the mother goose in
their natural environment.
.The other ha

Animal Studies on Attachment: Lorenz and Harlow

This page summarizes two influential animal studies on attachment: Lorenz's animal study with geese and Harlow's monkey experiment. These studies have significantly shaped our understanding of attachment formation in early development.

Lorenz's Research on Imprinting

Konrad Lorenz conducted a study on geese to investigate the phenomenon of imprinting. His procedure involved dividing a clutch of goose eggs into two groups: one hatched with the mother goose in their natural environment, and the other hatched in an incubator where Lorenz was the first thing they saw.

Definition: Imprinting is an attachment that develops between a young animal and its carer during a critical period.

The findings of Lorenz's study were remarkable:

  • The incubator group followed Lorenz, while the control group followed their mother.
  • This behavior persisted even when the two groups were mixed.
  • The critical period for imprinting was identified as a few hours after hatching.
  • If imprinting didn't occur within this time, the chicks didn't attach to a mother figure.

Highlight: Lorenz discovered that the critical period for imprinting in geese was around a few hours after hatching, emphasizing the importance of early experiences in attachment formation.

Lorenz also observed sexual imprinting, where birds who imprinted on humans later displayed courtship behavior towards humans.

Harlow's Research on Contact Comfort

Harry Harlow's famous experiment with infant monkeys explored the importance of contact comfort in attachment formation. The procedure involved rearing 16 baby monkeys with two wire model mothers:

  • In one condition, milk was dispensed by the metal wire mother.
  • In the second condition, milk was dispensed by the cloth-covered mother.

The findings were groundbreaking:

  • Baby monkeys consistently preferred to cuddle the cloth-covered mother.
  • They sought comfort from the cloth-covered mother when frightened, regardless of which one dispensed milk.

Conclusion: Contact comfort was of more importance to the monkeys than food when it came to attachment behavior.

Harlow's research also revealed long-term effects of maternal deprivation:

  • Monkeys reared with only the metal wire mother were the most dysfunctional.
  • Even monkeys reared with the cloth-covered mother didn't develop normal social behavior, showing more aggression and less sociability.
  • The critical period for attachment formation in monkeys was identified as within the first 90 days of life.

Evaluation of Animal Attachment Studies

Both studies have significant strengths and limitations:

Strengths:

  • Theoretical value: These studies have been influential in developmental psychology.
  • Practical applications: Findings have informed childcare practices and animal welfare in zoos.

Limitations:

  • Ethical concerns: The animals, especially in Harlow's study, suffered as a result of the experiments.
  • Generalizability: Findings from birds and monkeys may not directly apply to human attachment processes.

Example: Social workers now better understand risk factors in child abuse and prevention strategies based on insights from these studies.

In conclusion, while these animal studies have limitations, they have significantly contributed to our understanding of attachment formation and have had lasting impacts on developmental psychology and childcare practices.



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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

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Xander S

iOS user

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Psychology

592

27 Oct 2025

1 page

Fun with Animal Imprinting: Lorenz's Geese and Harlow's Monkeys!

user profile picture

Amy Breen

@amybreen_ikkr

Konrad Lorenz's imprinting experiment and Harry Harlow's monkey study are foundational in attachment theory, revealing crucial insights into early bonding processes in animals with implications for human development. These studies highlight the importance of critical periods, contact comfort, and early... Show more

Procedure:
.He randomly divided a clutch of goose eggs.
.Half were hatched with the mother goose in
their natural environment.
.The other ha

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Animal Studies on Attachment: Lorenz and Harlow

This page summarizes two influential animal studies on attachment: Lorenz's animal study with geese and Harlow's monkey experiment. These studies have significantly shaped our understanding of attachment formation in early development.

Lorenz's Research on Imprinting

Konrad Lorenz conducted a study on geese to investigate the phenomenon of imprinting. His procedure involved dividing a clutch of goose eggs into two groups: one hatched with the mother goose in their natural environment, and the other hatched in an incubator where Lorenz was the first thing they saw.

Definition: Imprinting is an attachment that develops between a young animal and its carer during a critical period.

The findings of Lorenz's study were remarkable:

  • The incubator group followed Lorenz, while the control group followed their mother.
  • This behavior persisted even when the two groups were mixed.
  • The critical period for imprinting was identified as a few hours after hatching.
  • If imprinting didn't occur within this time, the chicks didn't attach to a mother figure.

Highlight: Lorenz discovered that the critical period for imprinting in geese was around a few hours after hatching, emphasizing the importance of early experiences in attachment formation.

Lorenz also observed sexual imprinting, where birds who imprinted on humans later displayed courtship behavior towards humans.

Harlow's Research on Contact Comfort

Harry Harlow's famous experiment with infant monkeys explored the importance of contact comfort in attachment formation. The procedure involved rearing 16 baby monkeys with two wire model mothers:

  • In one condition, milk was dispensed by the metal wire mother.
  • In the second condition, milk was dispensed by the cloth-covered mother.

The findings were groundbreaking:

  • Baby monkeys consistently preferred to cuddle the cloth-covered mother.
  • They sought comfort from the cloth-covered mother when frightened, regardless of which one dispensed milk.

Conclusion: Contact comfort was of more importance to the monkeys than food when it came to attachment behavior.

Harlow's research also revealed long-term effects of maternal deprivation:

  • Monkeys reared with only the metal wire mother were the most dysfunctional.
  • Even monkeys reared with the cloth-covered mother didn't develop normal social behavior, showing more aggression and less sociability.
  • The critical period for attachment formation in monkeys was identified as within the first 90 days of life.

Evaluation of Animal Attachment Studies

Both studies have significant strengths and limitations:

Strengths:

  • Theoretical value: These studies have been influential in developmental psychology.
  • Practical applications: Findings have informed childcare practices and animal welfare in zoos.

Limitations:

  • Ethical concerns: The animals, especially in Harlow's study, suffered as a result of the experiments.
  • Generalizability: Findings from birds and monkeys may not directly apply to human attachment processes.

Example: Social workers now better understand risk factors in child abuse and prevention strategies based on insights from these studies.

In conclusion, while these animal studies have limitations, they have significantly contributed to our understanding of attachment formation and have had lasting impacts on developmental psychology and childcare practices.

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Bowlbys maternal deprivation theory

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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Students love us — and so will you.

4.9/5

App Store

4.8/5

Google Play

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user