🟡 Attachment - Caregiver Infant Interactions

Question 1

What is attachment

Answer 1

Close 2 way emotional bond usually between infant and caregiver

Question 2

4 attachment behaviours

Answer 2

• stranger anxiety
• proximity
• separation distress
• secure base behaviour

Question 3

Stranger anxiety

Answer 3

Distress when in presence of a stranger

Question 4

Proximity

Answer 4

People try to stay physically close to those they are attached to

Question 5

Separation distress

Answer 5

Feelings of distress when attachment figure leaves

Question 6

Secure base behaviour

Answer 6

Explore environment, but refuels return to attachment figure for comfort

Question 7

2 interactions

Answer 7

Reciprocity
Interactional synchrony

Question 8

Reciprocity

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Interactional synchrony

Answer 9

Simultaneous, mirrored emotions and actions between mother and infant

Interactions are rhythmic

Question 10

Examples of reciprocity

Answer 10

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

Question 11

2 researches on reciprocity

Answer 11

Tronik et al 1979
Murray and Trevor then 1985

Question 12

Tronik et al

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Murray and Trevarthen

Answer 13

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

Question 14

2 studies for Interactional synchrony

Answer 14

Isabella et al 1989
Meltzoff and Moore 1977

Question 15

Isabella et al

Answer 15

1989, 30 mothers and infants were assessed
Found that high levels of Interactional synchrony was associated with better quality mother - infant attachment

Question 16

Meltzoff and Moore

Answer 16

1977, investigation (controlled observation) into IS in infants. An adult model displayed one of 3 facial expressions. A dummy was placed in the infants mouth initially to prevent any response. Following display, dummy removed, Childs expression was filmed

Infants as young as 3 days old imitate the facial expressions of adults. Implies ability to mirror is innate

Question 17

Strengths of caregiver-infant Interaction

Answer 17

• controlled observations are well controlled procedures
• no demand characteristics. Babies don’t know they are being observed
• investigations have returned constant findings
• good validity

Question 18

Weaknesses of caregiver-infant interactions

Answer 18

• impossible to tell what is taking place from the infants perspective
• could just be a coincidence of hand movements, facial expressions