AS ATTACHMENT; INFANT-CAREGIVER INTERACTIONS

Question 1

Define attachment

Answer 1

A close, two-way emotional bond between infant and caregiver, in which each sees the other as essential for their own emotional security

Question 2

Describe reciprocity

Answer 2

Interactions between carer and infant result in mutual behaviour, with both parties being able to produce responses from each other; this helps to fortify the attachment bond.

Question 3

Describe interactional synchrony

Answer 3

Caregiver and infant reflect the actions and emotions of one another so that they mirror each other. This only comes after reciprocity.

Question 4

What is the purpose of infant-caregiver interactions?

Answer 4

To develop and maintain an attachment bond between infant and caregiver

Question 5

Evaluate infant-caregiver interactions

Answer 5

(-) Hard to tell what the infant is actually doing so can’t be sure that these actions are meaningful
(+) Babies don’t show demand characteristics, i.e. they won’t alter their beh just because they’re being observed so more natural beh observed
(+) Observations often have very high levels of control so good internal validity
(-) Socially sensitive; mothers who return to work soon after having the baby often don’t reach a level of interactional synchrony with their infant, which suggests they are inferior parents to those who stay at home for longer.