Konrad Lorenz

Lorenz 1904

Konrad lorenz-rusky lagr 1944-fotka

Lorenz and Tinbergen1

Lorenz and Tinbergen2

Konrad Lorenz (7 November 1903 – 27 February 1989) was an Austrian zoologist, ethologist, and ornithologist. He is often regarded as one of the founders of modern ethology, the study of animal behavior. Lorenz shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1973 with Nikolaas Tinbergen and Karl von Frisch for their discoveries concerning organization and elicitation of individual and social behavior patterns in animals.

Early Life and Education

Konrad Zacharias Lorenz was born in Vienna, Austria, to Adolf Lorenz, a well-known orthopedic surgeon, and Emma Lecher Lorenz, a doctor's daughter with a strong interest in science. From an early age, Lorenz was fascinated by animals, spending much of his time observing and sketching them. He initially studied medicine at the University of Vienna, receiving his medical degree in 1928. Subsequently, Lorenz followed his passion for studying animals by earning a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Vienna in 1933.

Career and Research

Lorenz's early work involved studying the instinctive behavior of birds, particularly greylag geese and jackdaws. He is well-known for his concept of imprinting, a form of learning in which a young animal acquires several of its behavioral characteristics from its parent or another object within a critical period after birth. His observations and experiments with geese led him to conclude that this process was innate and had a critical period for its development.

Throughout his career, Lorenz developed and expanded upon the idea of innate behavioral patterns and their triggers, known as fixed action patterns. He argued that many animal behaviors are genetically predetermined and can be triggered by specific external stimuli. Lorenz's work laid the foundation for understanding how behavioral patterns have evolved and their ecological significance.

In addition to his research, Lorenz wrote extensively for both scientific and popular audiences. His books, such as "King Solomon's Ring" and "On Aggression," introduced a wide audience to the concepts of ethology and the importance of animal behavior studies.

Nobel Prize

In 1973, Lorenz, along with Nikolaas Tinbergen and Karl von Frisch, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning the organization and elicitation of individual and social behavior patterns in animals. This recognition was a significant milestone in establishing ethology as a vital branch of biological science.

Later Life and Legacy

Konrad Lorenz continued to research and write until his death in 1989. He left behind a rich legacy in the field of ethology, influencing not only the study of animal behavior but also providing insights into human behavior and psychology. His work has had a lasting impact on various fields, including psychology, anthropology, and environmental conservation.

Lorenz's contributions to science have been recognized through numerous awards and honors, in addition to the Nobel Prize. His ability to communicate complex scientific ideas to the general public has made him one of the most celebrated scientists of the 20th century.

Selected Works

• "King Solomon's Ring" (1949)
• "On Aggression" (1963)
• "The Foundations of Ethology" (1982)

See Also

• Ethology
• Imprinting (psychology)
• Fixed action pattern
• Nikolaas Tinbergen
• Karl von Frisch