Attachment- Caregiver-infant Interaction

Question 1

What is attachment?

Answer 1

A close two-way bond where each individual sees the other as essential for emotional security.

Question 2

What is proximity?

Answer 2

trying to stay physically close to whom they are attached.

Question 3

What is separation distress?

Answer 3

Distress when an attachment figure leaves their presence

Question 4

What is secure base behaviour?

Answer 4

Behaviour displayed by infants when they return to their caregiver regularly while playing.

Question 5

What is reciprocity?

Answer 5

Turn-taking interaction.

Question 6

What is interactional synchrony?

Answer 6

Interaction in such a way that actions and emotions mirror the other.

Question 7

When do babies have periodic ‘alert phases’ for interaction?

Answer 7

From 3 months, they occur more frequently.

Question 8

What was the method and findings of Meltzoff and Moore’s interactions synchrony study?

Answer 8

Adult displayed one of 3 facial expressions/gestures.
Association found between action of adult and action of baby. Used babies as young as 2 weeks.

Question 9

What is a weakness of caregiver infant interaction?

Answer 9

Hard to interpret babies’ behaviour.
Difficult to understand rationale behind expressions.
Low internal validity- inference based conclusions

Question 10

What are two strengths of caregiver infant interaction?

Answer 10

Meltzoff and Moores study

Practical application
Research led to changes in maternity wards- babies are kept alongside their mothers to aid attachment.
High external validity