What is imprinting?

Hint: The phase that includes the learning process that takes place in the life of a social animal is known as imprinting. It can occur at any age or any phase of their life cycle. The imprint is a word that is used to explain a condition in which an organism adapts to a certain stimulus.

Complete answer:
The theory of ‘imprinting’ was given by Konrad Lorenz through his study on young swans. He carefully observed and studied the bond between the guardians and the young swans. The guardians were the superior or the senior individuals of the group that helped in taking care and guiding the younger ones of the same group. The younger swans were found to follow their superior swans and adjust to the roles that were assigned to them by copying their guardians.
Imprinting is the ability of an organism where the organism learns the characteristics of the other organism and how those organisms adjust to the various stimuli. It is done over a period of time that varies among different organisms. It is even found in the case of humans as well. In this method, the younger ones generally imprint the characteristics of their parents as they are more exposed to their behaviors and learn and copy from them.
There are various types of imprinting:
1) Filial imprinting - It is observed mostly in the case of the birds or the chickens where the young ones develop the imprints of their parents' characters and follow them around.
2) Sexual imprinting - It is observed in Zebra finches where the young ones learn the characteristics of the desirable mate.
3) Limbic imprinting - It is the method where the imprints of various life-long experiences, effects, or beliefs are stored in the brain or limbic system.

Note:
Ethology is a Greek term - ethos means ‘character’ and logy means ‘study of’. It is the study of the animal behavior and its characters in their natural habitat. Its study also helps the animals in maintaining their welfare and their health. The behaviors that come under this category are communication, sexual, maternal, social, feeding behavior, etc.