Attachment 1 | Caregiver-infant interactions in humans Flashcards
AO1 What is reciprocity in caregiver-infant interactions
Reciprocity is a form of interaction where infant and caregiver respond to each other’s signals in a turn-taking manner promoting communication.
AO1 What is interactional synchrony in caregiver-infant interactions
Interactional synchrony occurs when infant and caregiver mirror each other’s actions and emotions in a coordinated and rhythmic way.
AO1 Outline one key study into interactional synchrony
Meltzoff and Moore observed infants as young as 2 weeks old who imitated facial expressions and hand gestures demonstrated by an adult suggesting interactional synchrony is present early in life.
AO1 What are Schaffer’s stages of attachment
They include asocial stage 0 to 6 weeks, indiscriminate attachment 6 weeks to 7 months, specific attachment from 7 months and multiple attachments from around 9 months.
AO1 Describe the asocial stage in Schaffer’s stages of attachment
In the asocial stage infants show similar responses to objects and people and do not prefer specific individuals.
AO1 Describe the indiscriminate attachment stage in Schaffer’s stages of attachment
Infants begin to prefer people over objects but accept comfort from anyone and do not show stranger anxiety.
AO1 Describe the specific attachment stage in Schaffer’s stages of attachment
Infants form a primary attachment to one person usually the mother and show separation and stranger anxiety.
AO1 Describe the multiple attachments stage in Schaffer’s stages of attachment
Infants form attachments to multiple people such as grandparents and siblings and show attachment behaviour towards them.
AO1 Outline the method of Schaffer and Emerson 1964 study
Schaffer and Emerson conducted a longitudinal study on 60 working class infants from Glasgow visiting them monthly in their homes to observe attachment behaviours and interview mothers.
AO1 Outline the results of Schaffer and Emerson 1964 study
The stages of attachment were found to occur. Also at 8 months of age about 50 of the infants had more than one attachment. About 20 of them had either no attachment with their mothers or had a stronger attachment with someone else.
AO1 Outline the conclusion of Schaffer and Emerson 1964 study
Attachment development occurs in stages and infants can form multiple attachments not just to one primary caregiver.
AO3 What is an evaluation of Schaffer and Emerson 1964 study
A strength is ecological validity as the study was carried out in natural settings however it has limited generalisability as it only used working class families from Glasgow.
AO1 What is the role of the father in attachment research
The role of the father is debated but research suggests fathers are more likely to be playmates and less likely to be primary attachment figures though they can be nurturing.
AO3 What is a strength of the role of the father theory by Ross et al 1975
Ross et al found that the number of nappies a father changed positively correlated with the strength of the attachment bond suggesting fathers can form strong attachments when involved in caregiving.
AO3 What is a strength of research into reciprocity and interactional synchrony
A strength is that research often uses controlled observations increasing internal validity and allowing reliable detailed data collection.
AO3 What is a limitation of research into reciprocity and interactional synchrony
A limitation is that infant behaviours are hard to interpret as they may be reflexive not social reducing the validity of conclusions.
AO3 What is a strength of Schaffer’s stages of attachment
A strength is that they are supported by Schaffer and Emerson’s longitudinal study which used naturalistic observations increasing ecological validity.
AO3 What is a limitation of Schaffer’s stages of attachment
A limitation is cultural bias as Schaffer and Emerson’s findings may not apply to collectivist cultures where multiple attachments may form earlier.
AO3 What is a strength of research into multiple attachments
A strength is evidence from Schaffer and Emerson showing that most infants formed multiple attachments by 12 months supporting the idea of multiple attachments.
AO3 What is a limitation of research into the role of the father
A limitation is inconsistency as some research shows fathers as sensitive caregivers and others as primarily playmates reducing clarity on their role.
AO3 What is a general limitation across caregiver-infant research
A limitation is that it is socially sensitive and may place pressure on certain family types such as working mothers or single fathers raising ethical concerns.
