A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What happens during the critical period identified by Lorenz in his imprinting study?

1. Geese learn to recognize their food sources

2. Geese identify their caregiver

3. Geese develop social hierarchies

4. Geese learn migration patterns

The correct answer is: Geese identify their caregiver

During the critical period identified by Lorenz in his imprinting study, goslings (young geese) learn to identify and bond with their caregiver, which is typically the first moving object they encounter shortly after hatching. This process is referred to as "imprinting," and it is a crucial aspect of their early development. The bond formed during this period helps ensure that the young geese stay close to their caregiver, which is essential for their survival as it increases their chances of receiving care, protection, and learning necessary survival skills. Imprinting occurs very quickly after hatching, and it appears to be an innate behavior that is particularly sensitive to timing. If a young goose does not encounter a responsive caregiver during this critical window, it may fail to bond properly, which can have lasting effects on its social interactions and behavior. This critical period underscores the significance of attachment in animal behavior and development, illustrating how important early experiences are for developing species-specific behaviors. Other options relate to different forms of behavior or learning that do not occur in the same critical window as imprinting or may be less directly tied to the immediate survival and development of the young geese. For instance, recognizing food sources and developing social hierarchies, while both important, happen later