A: Caregiver-infant interactions Flashcards
Newborn alert phases.
From birth, babies and mothers (or other carers) spend a lot of time in intense and pleasurable interaction. Babies have periodic ‘alert phases’ and signal they are ready for interaction, which mothers respond to around 2/3rds of the time (Feldman and Eidleman).
Interactional synchrony.
Two people are called synchronised when they carry out the same action simultaneously. Interactional synchrony can be defined as ‘the coordination of micro-level behaviour’ (Feldman). It takes place when mother and infant interact in such a way that their actions and emotions mirror the other.
The start of Interactional synchrony.
Meltzof and Moore observed the beginnings of Interactional synchrony as young as two weeks old. Adult displayed one of three facial expressions or one of three distinctive gestures and the child’s response was filmed. An association was found between the expression/gesture and the action of the child.
How is Interactional synchrony important for development of attachment.
Synchrony provides necessary foundations for mother and infant connection which is built upon in subsequent years. Isabella et al. observed 30 mothers and infants together and assessed the degree of synchrony and the quality of attatchment. Researchers found high levels of synchrony were associated with better quality mother-infant attatchment.
Reciprocity.
When one person responds to the other and elicits a response from them. Involves close attention to each others verbal signals and facial expressions.
When does reciprocity begin?
From around three months.
What did Brazleton et al. say about reciprocity?
Described it as a ‘dance’ because it is just like a couple’s dance where each partner responds to each others moves.
Activity in babies.
Traditional views of childhood= baby in passive role recieving care from adult. However, seems that baby takes active role. Mother and child can initiate interactions and they appear to take turns in doing so.
Limitations of caregiver-infant interactions.
HARD TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING WHEN OBSERVING INFANTS: other studies showed the same, but what is being observed is merely hand movements or expressions. Difficult to be sure what is taking place from the infants perspective. For example, is it deliberate and conscious? This means we cannot be certain that behaviours seen in mother-infant interactions have a special meaning.
SOCIALLY SENSITIVE: because it suggests children may be disadvantaged by particular child-reading practices. Specifically mothers who return to work shortly after a child is born restrict the opportunities for achieving Interactional synchrony. Suggests mothers should not return to work so soon- obvious socially sensitive implications.
Strength of caregiver-infant interactions.
USES WELL CONTROLLED PROCEDURES: interactions usually filmed, often from multiple angles. Very fine details of behaviour can be recorded and analysed later. Babies don’t know they’re being observed, so their behaviour does not change in response to observation (generally main problem for observation research). Strength of this line of research because means studies have good validity.
