Animal Studies

Animal Studies

1. Konrad Lorenz 1935

   • Procedure; Took a clutch of gosling eggs and divided them into two groups
   • One group was left with their natural mother and the other group was placed into an incubator
   • When the incubator eggs hatched the first living (moving) thing they saw was Lorenz and they began following him around
     • Lorenz marked the two groups to distinguish them and placed them together, those who followed him and had imprinted as both Lorenz and their natural mother were present
   • Findings; the goslings quickly divided themselves up, one group following their natural mother and the other groups followed Lorenz
   • Lorenz's brood showed no recognition of the natural mother, Lorenz suggested that imprinting was limited to the critical period