Multiple choice

The time in a goose's life when it imprints the image of its mother is called

  1. embryonic

  2. critical period

  3. crucial stage

  4. impressionable stage

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The critical period is a specific developmental window when young animals form strong attachments to moving objects, typically their mother. Konrad Lorenz's famous goose experiments demonstrated that this imprinting occurs during a limited time frame and is irreversible. Missing this critical period can permanently impair the ability to form normal social bonds.