Caregiver-Infant Interactions

Question 1

Define attachment

Answer 1

A two way enduring,emotional tie to a specific other person

Question 2

When does an attachment bond form

Answer 2

When an infant shows stranger anxiety and separation anxiety

Question 3

Are attachment bond present at birth

Answer 3

No

Question 4

Are would someone describe caregiver - infant interactions

Answer 4

Rhythmic and mutual

Question 5

What are the 2 terms used to describe how a infant and caregiver re able to understand each other

Answer 5

• reciprocity

- interactional synchrony

Question 6

Define reciprocity

Answer 6

Infant and caregiver are both active contributor in the interaction and responding to each other

Question 7

Define interactional synchrony

Answer 7

The infant and caregiver behaviours and emotions are synchronised because they are moving in the same or a similar pattern

Question 8

Isabelle et al (1989)

Answer 8

• support
• observed 30 mothers and infants together in their homes during the first year and assessed the degree of synchrony
• found that mother-infant pairs who had shown more instances of interactional synchrony were more Likely to be securely attached

Question 9

Meltzoff and Moore (1983)

Answer 9

• support
• infants as young as 3 days imitate the facial expression of adults
• implies that this ability to mirror is an innate behaviour

Question 10

Weaknesses of interactional synchrony and reciprocity

Answer 10

• difficulty interpreting
• not found in all cultures
• correlational findings

Question 11

Explain difficult interpreting

Answer 11

• what is observed is Merlot hand move to or hangers in expression
• this is difficult to interpret
• cannot know for certain if behaviour seen in mother-infant interaction is special
• even when they are reliably observed we don’t know the purpose

Question 12

Describe why interactional synchrony not being found in all cultures is a weakness

Answer 12

• weakens the idea that its necessary for attachment formation

Question 13

Le vine et al (1994)

Answer 13

• supports the idea that interactional synchrony is not found in all cultures
• reported that Kenyan mother have little physical contact or interactions with their infants, but such infants do have a high proportion of secure attachment

Question 14

Describe why correlation findings is a weakness

Answer 14

Although there is research evidence that reciprocity and synchrony are helpful in attachment formation however most of theses findings are corresponding meaning they cannot be taken as evidence that the secure attachment is a direct result of theses behaviours

Question 15

Why is practical application a strength

Answer 15

Therapist who work with infants and children who have experienced disruption in there attachment formation recognise the importance of reciprocal and interactional synchrony in their work eg caregiver are encouraged to mirror the children emotions by imitating facial expressions in response to music