attachment - caregiver-infant interactions

Question 1

define attachment

Answer 1

• emotional link between caregiver and infant
• each seek closeness and feel more secure in presence of attachment figure
  (1 MARK)
• interaction is what starts an attachment
• responsiveness has deep effect
  (1 MARK)

Question 2

3 ways to recognise attachment

Answer 2

Proximity
- people stay close to those they are physically attached to

Seperation distress
- people are distressed when attachment figure leaves their presence

Secure base behaviour
- we always ‘touch base’ with attachment figure regularly

Question 3

interactional synchrony - AO1

Answer 3

• caregiver and infant respond in time to keep communication going
  (1 MARK)
• e.g. infant smiles, caregiver smiles back at the same time (1 MARK)
• ensures actions mirror

Question 4

Meltzoff and Moore (77) - AO1

can also be used as research to support

Answer 4

• controlled observation
• 42 week old babies
• adult displayed 1/3 distinctive gestures/facial expressions
• e.g. mouth opening/tongue protrusion
• independent observer filmed
• identified link between adult facial expression and infant response

(1/2 MARKS)

Question 5

reciprocity - AO1

Answer 5

• caregivers and infants take it in turns to respond to each other to sustain interaction
  (1 MARK)
• behaviour of one party elicits response from the other
• e.g. infant puts arms out to be held, caregiver picks up
  (1 MARK)
• Feldman and Eidelman suggest babies have ‘alert phases’ where they signal when ready for interaction
• caregiver picks up and acts on these signals 2/3rd of the time
  (1 MARK)
• Brazleton said both mother and baby take turns to initiate interaction
• he called this the ‘dance’
• when a couple dances they respond to each others moves (3 AND 4 MARKS)

Question 6

criticism - AO3
lacks ecological validity

DISCUSSION

Answer 6

P - criticism
- lacks eco val

E - controlled observation
- infants filmed in artificial environment

E - difficult to generalise findings to real world
- infant may behave differently
- e.g. interact more due to parent being only familiar person
- or less due to unfamiliar environment

L - lowers internal validity of caregiver/infant interactions

discussion
- some argue young infants unable to notice change in environment
- so validity not affected

Question 7

Strength - AO3
high control over extraneous variables

Answer 7

P - controlled environment
- so high control over extraneous variables

E - potential extraneous variables such as having other adults in the room
- may affect interaction as it distracts baby

E - so cause and effect can be established

L - increases internal validity

Question 8

Weakness - AO3
prone to bias

DISCUSSION

Answer 8

P - prone to bias
- babies cannot speak
- inferences made about their behaviour

E - psychologist may interpret behaviour in a way that fits their hypothesis

E - e.g. baby may have wind but psychologist will interpret this as a smile in response to caregiver

L - reduces internal validity

DISCUSSION
- this can be minimised by having 2 observers are present to agree on findings

Question 9

Strength - AO3
practical applications

Answer 9

P - research into caregiver-infant interactions has practical application

E - demonstrates importance of early interaction on later development

E - psychologists use this to encourage responsive caregivers
- to prevent later life issues

L - important part of applied psych