caregiver-infant interactions

Question 1

What is meant by reciprocity?

Answer 1

When the infant and caregiver interact by ‘turn taking’. The interaction is reciprocal as the two are responding to each others interactions. Their actions elicit responses from each other, but the actions are not necessarily similar or the same.

Question 2

What is meant by interactional synchrony?

Answer 2

The caregiver and infant tend to mirror what the other is doing in terms of facial and body movements. It is the process of copying or imitating

Question 3

Who supports the concept of reciprocity?

Answer 3

Papousek et al (1991)

Question 4

Which researchers the concept of interactional synchrony?

Answer 4

Meltzoff and Moore (1977)

Question 5

Outline Meltzoff and Moore’s procedure (1977)

Answer 5

-controlled observation in lab conditions
-two week old infants
-adult displayed 1/3 facial expressions and 1 hand gesture
-infants behaviour was observed and filmed
-child had a dummy in initially
-following the display, dummy was removed and expression was recorded

Question 6

Outline Meltzoff and Moore’s findings in support of interactional synchrony

Answer 6

-association between expression/gesture displayed and the infants response
-reliability and validity were high as observers rated responses twice and scores were consistent

Question 7

What is a strength of research into caregiver-infant interactions (evaluation)

Answer 7

Research has practical applications; babies and mothers are now placed in the same rooms to encourage attachment