Caregiver - Inant Interactions Flashcards
What is reciprocity
It is a two way process
How do babies show reciprocity
They show reciprocity to their caregivers from birth
Throughout the day they will have periods of alertness in which they are more receptive to being interactive
They respond to the caregivers signals
Interaction between infant and caregiver is what type of process
It is a two way process where babies take an active involvement just as much as caregiver
What did brazelton describe the interaction between caregiver and infants
Described it as a dance where each is responding to the others persons move
Why is reciprocity important
It lays the foundations for secure attachment
The still face experiment procedure
Tronick
- infant and caregiver sat face to face
- crgiver interacts with baby responding to cues, noises and facial expressions then caregiver turns their face away then returns to look back at infant with a stil face and does not interact or respond for 2 mins
- caregiver then returns to normal responsive behaviour
Still face experiment findings
During first phase - infants engaged and respond to cues and interaction from caregiver - they show reciprocity
One still face phase begins infants change behaviour
- confusion
- attempt to initiate response from caregiver
- distress
- withdrawn and no longer try to get caregivers attention
During repair - infant relieved and responsible to caregiver play resumes
Still face experiment findings suggest
- suggest that infants try to achieve a connection with their caregivers
- infants can actively engage and shape social interaction with caregivers
What is interactional synchrony
It is the mirroring action of facial expressions, bodily movements and emotions between two people
Interactional synchrony is important for what
Important to enable secure attachment
Isabella et al found during a study of 30 mothers and babies that those with higher levels of synchrony had a secure attachment
Meltzoff and Moore study
Systematic study if interactional synchrony between caregiver and infants
- adult model displayed one of three facial expressions and hand gestures
- infants dummy was removed and infants facial expression were recorded on video and observation were noted by independent observer
- found interactional synchrony began as young as two weeks old when infants could mirrror
Strengths of meltzoff and mores study
Study was filmed
- observation can be analysed so no ambiguity it baby’s response s erase her will not miss behaviours
- young age infants so unaware they are being filmed so behaviour wont hanged
- high validity
Limitations of caregiver interactions
Infant and babies used in research so it can make it difficult to test their behaviours
- infants lack coordinated movements and move limbs randomly
- difficult to distinguish between their general behaviours and specific Acton’s in response to adult
Means there is no certainties to there finding
Limitation of still face experiment
Is a lab procedure
- lacks ecological validity so findings may not give actuate predictions of real world
- lab experiment may exagggerate or inhibit certain behaviours that would or would to be present in real world settings
