Attachment - Interactions and Theories

Question 1

Define Reciprocity

Answer 1

Where a caregiver and child respond to each other reciprocally in a meaningful way.

Question 2

Provide some A03 for Reciprocity

Answer 2

Reciprocity is a great influence on how the child develops trust and mistrust, how they will learn, and how they will form relationships later on.
Feldmann found the development of reciprocity in infants from just three months of age.

Question 3

Define Interactional Synchrony

Answer 3

A rhythmic interaction of turn taking where the caregiver and infant mirror each other in coordination and anticipation of each other.
Develops quicker if the caregiver is fully attentive to the child.

Question 4

Provide some A03 for Interactional Synchrony

Answer 4

Meltzoff and Moore:
Controlled Observation
Adult and child in room. Dummy in mouth, one of three facial expressions or hand gesture. Dummy out, same happen, recorded baby’s reaction.
Find clear association between adult model and child’s behaviour.
Later research found same for 3 day old infants.

Question 5

3 Evaluations of Caregiver-Infant Interactions

Answer 5

QUESTIONABLE RELIABILITY of testing children:
Because babies are constantly moving their mouths and flailing about, we cannot be sure if they were genuinely interacting with their caregivers.
POTENTIAL OBSERVER BIAS:
Certain studies may have twisted results to fit their theory. Koepke et al failed to replicate Meltzoff and Moore’s findings in a study replication.
ATTACHMENTS AND INTERACTION:
Many studies failed to consider attachment type when they were conducted. Certain research has proven more securely attached infants participate in interaction more. this could be a confounding variable in many studies.