🟡 Attachment - Caregiver Infant Interactions Flashcards
What is attachment
Close 2 way emotional bond usually between infant and caregiver
4 attachment behaviours
- stranger anxiety
- proximity
- separation distress
- secure base behaviour
Stranger anxiety
Distress when in presence of a stranger
Proximity
People try to stay physically close to those they are attached to
Separation distress
Feelings of distress when attachment figure leaves
Secure base behaviour
Explore environment, but refuels return to attachment figure for comfort
2 interactions
Reciprocity
Interactional synchrony
Reciprocity
How 2 people interact, felt equally from both sides
Mother - infant interactions is reciprocal in that each responds to the other and elicits a response from the other
Interactional synchrony
Simultaneous, mirrored emotions and actions between mother and infant
Interactions are rhythmic
Examples of reciprocity
1 alert phase, the baby signals that they are ready for interaction
2 caregiver response, mother picks up on these signals and respond to infant alertness
2 researches on reciprocity
Tronik et al 1979
Murray and Trevor then 1985
Tronik et al
1979, mother who had been enjoying a dialogue with their baby stopped moving and maintained a static, unsmiling expression
Baby tries to tempt the mother into interaction by smiling themselves
Baby becomes puzzled and increasingly distressed because smile didn’t provoke usual response
Murray and Trevarthen
1985, 2 month old infant study
Infants interacted with their mothers via video in real time
Next video monitor played recording, not real time
Now infants displayed acute distress
2 studies for Interactional synchrony
Isabella et al 1989
Meltzoff and Moore 1977
Isabella et al
1989, 30 mothers and infants were assessed
Found that high levels of Interactional synchrony was associated with better quality mother - infant attachment
