Caregiver-infant interactions Flashcards
attachment definition
Attachment: the formation of a strong, reciprocal emotional bond between an infant and a primary caregiver. This is where the individual sees the other as essential for their own emotional security.
what are the two types of caregiver-infant interactions
reciprocity and interactional synchrony
reciprocity definition
Reciprocity is where an infant responds to the actions of another person, in a form of turn taking. The actions of one person elicits a response from the other.
Research into reciprocity,
Active involvement researched by Brazelton et al – describes reciprocity as a dance. When couples dance they respond to each other’s movements. Likewise, reciprocity as a caregiver infant interaction is where the interaction between both individuals flows back and forth, therefore showing babies have an active role in reciprocity
Alert phases researched by Feldman – found that reciprocity increases in frequency from around 3 months. Infant and caregiver spend more time paying attention to each other’s verbal and facial communications. It’s been suggested that would lay the foundation for attachment to develop between caregiver and infant.
Interactional synchrony definition
Interactional synchrony is when infants mirror the actions and emotions in caregiver in a synchronized manner.
Research into interactional synchrony:
Synchrony begins young as 2 weeks researched by Meltzoff and Moore – adult displayed one of three facial expressions or one of three distinctive gestures. The infants expression was filmed and found that there was an association between the infant behaviour and that of the adult model.
Importance for attachment researched by Isabella et al – observed 30 mothers and infants together and assessed the degree of synchrony. Researchers also assessed quality of mother-infant attachment. Found that high levels of synchrony were associated with better quality mother-infant attachment.
Evaluation of caregiver-infant interactions (brief)
strength - filmed in laboratories
weakness - observations don’t tell us developmental importance HOWEVER research suggests it’s important
weakness - practical value vs ethics
strength of caregiver-infant interactions
caregiver infant interactions are usually filmed in laboratories. This means other activities that might distract the infant can be controlled. It also means that the observations can be recorded and analysed later. Therefore it is unlikely that the researchers will miss seeing key behaviours. Additionally, filmed interactions means that more than one observer can record data and establish the inter-rate reliability of observations. Furthermore, infants are not aware they are being observed so don’t change their behaviour in response to observation. Therefore, data collected in such research is seen to have good reliability and validity.
weaknesses of caregiver-infant interactions
simply observing behaviour doesn’t tell us its developmental importance. Ideas like interactional synchrony don’t tell us the purpose behind the behaviour. Reduces validity as we can’t’ be certain from observational research alone that reciprocity or interactional synchrony is important for a child’s development. HOWEVER, there’s other research to suggest early interactions are important. E.g. Heimann found infants who demonstrate a lot of imitation from birth onwards have been found to have better quality of relationship at 3 months. Therefore suggesting caregiver-infant interactions have a certain level of importance in development.
conflict between practical value vs ethics. This research has practical applications in parenting skills training. Crotwell et al found a 10 minute Parent Child Interaction Therapy improved 15 in 20 low-income mothers and their pre-school children. On the other hand, research into caregiver-infant interactions is socially sensitive as it can be used to argue that when a mother returns to work soon after having a baby it may risk damaging the baby’s development
