Caregiver-infant Interactions

Question 1

Define attachment

Answer 1

The formation of a strong, two-way emotional bond between two individuals

Question 2

Which 3 behaviour indicate an attachment has been formed

Answer 2

1. Proximity- child will have a need to be close to caregiver
2. Separation distress- child will show distress when separated from caregiver
3. Secure-base behaviour- when playing child will always come back at several points and check in with caregiver before going back off to play again

Question 3

State 2 types of caregiver-infant interactions

Answer 3

Reciprocity and interactional synchrony

Question 4

What is reciprocity

Answer 4

The adult and infant communicate by taking turns and one action elicits a response from the partner

Question 5

What are 2 phases in reciprocity

Answer 5

1. Alert phase
2. Active involvement

Question 6

What is the alert phase

Answer 6

• babies periodically signal that they are ready for interaction and mother typically pick up and respond around 2/3 of the time
• from 3 months these become increasingly frequent- involves both mother and baby paying close attention to each other’s verbal signals and facial expressions

Question 7

What is active involvement

Answer 7

• both caregiver and baby can initiate interactions and take turns in doing so
• Brazelton at al. (1975)- described this as a ‘dance’ as each partner responds to the other person’s moves

Question 8

What is interactional synchrony

Answer 8

When an adult and infant mirror what the other is doing in a coordinated and synchronised way

Question 9

State one study which shows support for interactional synchrony

Answer 9

Meltzoff and Moore (1977)

Question 10

Describe the procedure of Meltzoff and Moore (1977)

Answer 10

• studied 2-3 week olds. Adult model displayed 1 of 3 facial expressions or hand movements
• a dummy was placed in infant’s mouth- prevent any response
• dummy was removed and response was filmed

Question 11

Describe the findings of Meltzoff and Moore (1977)

Answer 11

Infants will imitate the facial and hand gestures of the adult model

Question 12

Give one difference between reciprocity and interactional synchrony

Answer 12

During interactional synchrony the responses are similar

Question 13

Why is interactional synchrony important

Answer 13

It leads to better quality caregiver-infant attachments