Animal Studies of Attachment: Lorenz and Harlow's Groundbreaking Research
This page delves into the seminal work of Konrad Lorenz and Harry Harlow on animal attachment, exploring their methodologies, findings, and the lasting impact of their research on our understanding of bonding behaviors.
Lorenz's Research on Imprinting
Konrad Lorenz's classic experiment on imprinting in geese laid the foundation for understanding early attachment in birds. He divided a clutch of goose eggs into two groups: one hatched with the mother goose in a natural environment, while the other hatched in an incubator with Lorenz as the first moving object they saw.
Definition: Imprinting is a rapid learning process by which a newborn or very young animal establishes a behavior pattern of recognition and attraction to another animal of its own kind or to a substitute.
The results of Lorenz's experiment were striking. When the two groups were mixed, the control group continued to follow their mother, while the experimental group followed Lorenz. This demonstrated that bird species mobile from birth tend to attach to the first moving object they encounter.
Highlight: Lorenz identified a critical period for imprinting, which can be as brief as a few hours after birth. If imprinting does not occur within this time frame, attachment may not form.
Lorenz's work also revealed the phenomenon of sexual imprinting. He described a case study of a peacock reared in a zoo's reptile house, which later only directed courtship behavior towards giant tortoises, the first moving objects it had seen.
Harlow's Research on Contact Comfort
Harry Harlow's research focused on the importance of contact comfort in attachment formation. His famous experiment involved rearing 16 baby rhesus monkeys with two wire model 'mothers.'
Example: One wire mother dispensed milk but was plain, while the other was covered in soft cloth but provided no nourishment.
Harlow's findings were groundbreaking:
- Baby monkeys consistently preferred cuddling with the cloth-covered mother.
- They sought comfort from the cloth mother when frightened, regardless of which one provided milk.
- This demonstrated that 'contact comfort' was more important than food in attachment behavior.
Quote: "Contact comfort more important than food in attachment behaviour"
Harlow's research also explored the long-term effects of maternal deprivation. Monkeys reared with only wire mothers showed severe developmental issues, including aggression, poor social skills, and difficulties in mating and parenting.
Vocabulary: Maternal deprivation refers to the lack of an attachment bond between an infant and a primary caregiver, typically the mother.
The study identified a critical period of 90 days for normal attachment development in monkeys, after which irreversible damage could occur due to early deprivation.
Research Support and Evaluation
Subsequent studies, such as Regolin and Vallortigara's (1995) work with chicks, have supported the concept of imprinting. However, the generalizability of these findings to humans is limited due to the more complex nature of mammalian attachment systems.
Highlight: Human attachment is a two-way process, involving both the infant's attachment to the caregiver and the caregiver's emotional attachment to the infant.
The permanence of imprinting has also been questioned. Guiton et al. (1966) found that while chickens imprinted on artificial objects would initially try to mate with them as adults, they eventually learned to prefer mating with other chickens.
Real-World Applications and Ethical Considerations
These animal studies have had significant real-world value, helping social workers and clinical psychologists understand the importance of early bonding experiences in child development. They have also informed practices in zoos and wildlife conservation efforts.
However, ethical concerns have been raised, particularly regarding Harlow's experiments, which caused significant suffering to the monkeys involved.
Highlight: The ethical debate surrounding these experiments highlights the ongoing tension between scientific advancement and animal welfare in research.
In conclusion, while the work of Lorenz and Harlow has been instrumental in shaping our understanding of attachment behaviors, it's crucial to consider both its contributions and limitations when applying these findings to human development.
