Caregiver Infant Interaction

Question 1

What is the significance of interactions between babies and their caregivers?

Answer 1

They are important for the successful development of attachments.

Early interactions help establish emotional bonds and social skills.

Question 2

Define reciprocity in the context of caregiver-infant interactions.

Answer 2

It is when one person responds to another in interaction, eliciting a response from someone else.

Question 3

What is the alert phase in infants?

Answer 3

A periodic phase where babies signal they want interaction through cries, eye contact, or noises.

Question 4

How do caregivers typically respond to babies during the alert phase?

Answer 4

Research shows mothers respond to babies 2/3rd of the time.

Feldman & Edelman (2007) found that 1/3rd of the time, mothers may not respond due to being busy, lacking skills, or experiencing stress.

Question 5

True or False: Babies are traditionally thought of as passive in interactions with caregivers.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

What does research suggest about the role of babies in interactions?

Answer 6

Babies initiate interactions and play an active role.

Question 7

Who described caregiver-infant interaction as a dance?

Answer 7

Brazelton (1975)

Question 8

Fill in the blank: The concept of ‘turn taking’ refers to _______ in caregiver-infant interactions.

Answer 8

[reciprocity]

Question 9

What is interactional synchrony?

Answer 9

When 2 people carry out interactions in a coordinated way, mirroring each other’s actions and emotions.

Question 10

At what age did Meltzoff and Moore observe interactional synchrony in infants?

Answer 10

As young as 2 weeks old.

Question 11

What did Meltzoff and Moore do to demonstrate interactional synchrony?

Answer 11

Adults made faces to babies, and babies responded by mirroring the face.

Question 12

What was the focus of Isabella’s research?

Answer 12

The degree of interactional synchrony and its association with mother-baby attachment quality.

Question 13

What did Isabella find about synchrony and mother-baby attachments?

Answer 13

High levels of synchrony were associated with better quality mother-baby attachments.

Question 14

What was the aim of Meltzoff and Moore’s study?

Answer 14

To investigate reciprocity and interactional synchrony between infants and their caregiver.

Question 15

What was the age range of infants in Meltzoff and Moore’s study?

Answer 15

6-27 days old.

Question 16

What stimuli were used in Meltzoff and Moore’s controlled observations?

Answer 16

3 facial gestures and 1 manual gesture (waving fingers).

Question 17

How were the infants’ responses recorded in the study?

Answer 17

Their actions were video recorded using behavioral categories.

Question 18

What did Meltzoff and Moore conclude about the ability to imitate?

Answer 18

It is an important building block for later social and cognitive development.

Question 19

True or False: Interactional synchrony only occurs in adults.

Answer 19

False.

Question 20

What is a limitation of the Meltzoff and Moore evaluation regarding observations?

Answer 20

What is being observed is merely hand movements or changes in expression

This limitation indicates that the study may not capture the full complexity of interactions.

Question 21

What difficulty arises from the observations in the Meltzoff and Moore evaluation?

Answer 21

Difficult to be certain based on these observations

This suggests that the interpretations of behaviors may lack reliability.

Question 22

What is a limitation concerning the meaning of behaviors in mother-infant interactions?

Answer 22

Can’t know for certain that behaviors seen have special meaning

This raises questions about the significance of the observed actions.

Question 23

What is a strength of the Meltzoff and Moore evaluation?

Answer 23

Well controlled - mother and infant filmed at many angles

This control helps ensure that fine details of behavior are accurately recorded.

Question 24

Why does the research have good validity according to the Meltzoff and Moore evaluation?

Answer 24

Babies don’t know they are being observed, so behavior doesn’t change

This aspect enhances the authenticity of the observed behaviors.