Glossary / Lexicon

Imprinting refers to the process by which some animals exhibit the fixed action pattern (FAP) of Attachment in response to a releasing stimulus. the FAP occurs during a Critical period and is difficult to modify.

Imprinting is defined as:
(1) The process of forming a strong social attachment at some point after birth;

(2) A condition in which genes from either the mother or the father are silenced. At present, 83 imprinted genes have been identified, but many more are expected to be discovered. Under conditions of imprinting, the genes from both parents are present on the DNA strands and are copied by the RNA but only the genes from one parent are used in making proteins. As a result, even though there are two different alleles in the genotype, only the mother's or the father's allele is expressed in the phenotype.

Description

Imprinting in psychology refers to a form of learning that occurs during a critical period early in an individual's life. It involves the rapid and relatively permanent learning of behaviors based on experiences with a specific caregiver or object. This process is essential for the development of social and attachment behaviors in many species, including humans. Imprinting is often associated with the work of Konrad Lorenz, who studied the attachment behavior of young birds. The concept of imprinting highlights the critical role of early experiences in shaping an individual's behavior and social development.

Application Areas

• Developmental psychology
• Attachment theory
• Animal behavior research
• Parenting practices

Treatment and Risks

• Therapy to address attachment issues resulting from maladaptive imprinting experiences
• Risks of attachment disorders if imprinting experiences are disrupted or dysfunctional
• Parenting interventions to promote healthy imprinting experiences in children

Examples

• A duckling following its mother and imprinting on her
• An infant forming a strong attachment to a primary caregiver due to early positive experiences
• A dog displaying behaviors learned through imprinting on its owner

Similar Concepts and Synonyms

• Attachment
• Bonding
• Socialization

Articles with 'Imprinting' in the title

• Genomic imprinting: Genomic imprinting is also known as Parental imprinting- when a child receives two (2) sets of chromosomes, one set from the mother, and the other from the father

Summary

Imprinting in psychology refers to the rapid and relatively permanent learning of behaviors based on early experiences with a specific caregiver or object. This concept is crucial for understanding social and attachment behaviors in many species. Imprinting highlights the importance of early experiences in shaping an individual's behavior and social development. Overall, imprinting plays a significant role in the formation of attachment relationships and social bonds in various species.

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