For example, when ducklings hatch, they tend to imprint on their parent and follow them everywhere.
Let us not forget that humans are animals too, and we can also experience imprinting.
Instead, human imprinting involves how we formsocio-emotional bondswith others in ways that impact us throughout our lifespan.
MoMo Productions/DigitalVision/Getty Images
What Is Human Imprinting?
It is important to note that he learned ducklings didnt only imprint on a parent.
Instead the imprinting was focused on the first object they sawwhich in some cases was an inanimate object.
Is Imprinting Real for Humans?
It is and has been documented within psychology.
In fact,attachment theorybuilds upon Lorenzs findings on imprinting.
Types of Imprinting
There are three different forms of imprintingfilial, sexual, and limbic.
What Are Some Examples of Imprinting?
Aside from animal imprinting, we can look at the ways in which humans engage in imprinting.
Rememberin imprinting, we are seeking safety for the purpose of survival.
It is important to note that we can develop awareness around our sexual imprinting and develop healthier patterns.
Anyone who has put in the work towards secure attachment would likely not move towards an unstable attachment situation.
Howard says that throughattachmentrepair, folks will often find themselves lacking attraction to potentially unsafe partners.
Imprinting revolutionized the way we understand human development.
McCabe BJ.Visual imprinting in birds: behavior, models, and neural mechanisms.Front Physiol.
2016;6(19):7113-7125. doi: 10.1002/ece3.2409
Hou B, Wang Y. Westermarck effect and imprinting.
2012;5. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2012.00055
