Attachment - reciprocity and interactional synchrony

Question 1

attachment

Answer 1

two-way emotional bond between two individuals, essential for emotional security. takes a few months to develop

Question 2

reciprocity

Answer 2

turn taking interactions

Question 3

interactional synchrony

Answer 3

simultaneous interactions, mirroring/imitating the others actions/behaviour

Question 4

what was Jaffe et al’s research into reciprocity?

Answer 4

infants co-ordinate actions towards caregivers as if having a non-verbal conversation, taking turns

Question 5

what was Brazleton’s 1979 research into reciprocity?

Answer 5

regularity of infants behaviour allows cargeiver to anticipate their behaviour based on signals. lays foundations for attachment between infant and caregiver

Question 6

who first researched interactional synchrony?

Answer 6

Meltztoff and Moore (1977)

Question 7

what was Meltztoff and Moore’s study?

Answer 7

observational research.
adult model displayed facial expression while infant using dummy to prevent initial response. after demonstration of expression, dummy was removed and there was an association between modeled expressions and the infants expressions. shows infants imitated specific hand and facial gestures

Question 8

positive of research into reciprocity and interactional synchrony

Answer 8

+ practical applications of the research, mother and infant are now placed in same room straight after birth to start attachment bonds early

Question 9

limitations of reasearch into reciprocity and interactional synchrony

Answer 9

• behaviour might be learned through operant conditioning? acting a way and then caregiver praising them/smiling reinforced behaviour?
• cultural differences. e.g women in Kenya found not too have much physical contact with infants but still there is a high proportion of secure attachments
• lab experiment - lacks external validity
• observational research = chance of researcher bias.