Caregiver-infant Interactions Flashcards
Attachment
A two way emotional bond between a caregiver and a baby that rely on each other for emotional security
What are the features of attachment
- Selective
- Seperation protest
- Stranger anxiety
- Secure based behaviour
- Proximity
- Provide comfort and security
Secure-based behaviour
Even when we are away from our attachment figure, we tend to make regular contact with them
Reciprocity
Interaction is reciprocal when each person (caregiver and baby) responds to the other’s signals and each elicits a response BACK from the other.
Alert phases
Babies have periodic alert phases in which they signal the they are ready for interaction. Research shows that mothers typically pick up and respond to their babies alertness around 2/3 of the time
What did Brazelton say about reciprocity
It’s like a ‘dance’ because it is just like a couples dance in response to each other.
What age does reciprocity become frequent in babies
3 months
How much does Feldman say mothers will respond to babies
Mothers typically respond to infants 2/3 of the time
Varies dependant on skill level of mother
Interactional synchrony
‘temporary coordination of micro-level social behaviour’
Infants and mothers actions mirror each others actions and emotions and do this in a coordinated way. Same time
Meltzoff and Moore research to support for interactional synchrony
- Completed a study into the interactional synchrony of babies as young as two weeks old.
- An adult made one of three expressions or one of three gestures.
- The child’s response was filmed and identified by independent observers.
- An association was found between the expression or gesture an adult had displayed and the actions of babies.
Isabellas (1989) research to support for interactional synchrony
- Observed 30 mothers and infants and assessed the degree of synchrony.
- Researchers assessed the quality of mother-infant attachment.
- High levels of synchrony were associated with better quality attachments.
Evaluation-Caregiver-Infant interactions- Filmed Observation
STRENGTH
+ Capture fine detail
+ Inter rater reliability
+ Babies not aware they are being observed
+ High validity (controlled)
Evaluation-Caregiver-Infant interactions- Difficulty observing babies
LIMITATION
- Hard to know meaning of small movements
Evaluation-Caregiver-Infant interactions- Developmental importance
LIMITATION
- Observation of behaviour doesn’t tell us about its importance in development
