Imprinting

Imprinting is the term used in Psychology and Ethology to describe any kind of phase-sensitive learning (learning occurring at a particular age or a particular life stage) that is rapid and apparently independent of the consequences of behavior. It was first used to describe situations in which an animal or person learns the characteristics of some stimulus, which is therefore said to be "imprinted" onto the subject. Imprinting is hypothesized to have a critical period. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imprinting_(psychology)

Konrad Lorenz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konrad_Lorenz

See related: Tim Leary's Eight Circuit Model Of Consciousness model