Caregiver-Infant Interactions

Question 1

Define attachment

Answer 1

A close emotional bond between two individuals in which each sees the other as essential for their emotional security

Question 2

How is attachment characterised?

Answer 2

By need for proximity, separation distress,“secure base” behaviour

Question 3

What is reciprocity?

Answer 3

Mutual responsiveness
- A type of caregiver-infant interaction where infant + caregiver respond to each others signals and each elicit a response
- turn - taking behaviour; conversational

Question 4

What is interactional synchrony?

Answer 4

Mimickry
- A type of C-I interaction where infant + caregiver mirror what the other is doing in terms of facial and body movements
- means they are «in tune» with each other

Question 5

Describe one study of interactional synchrony

Answer 5

Meltzoff and Moore
~ controlled observation using 6-27 day old babies
~ exposed to 3 facial gestures
~ responses were recorded
= found that infants as young as 2/3 weeks imitated specific facial expressions and hand gestures

Question 6

What are some strengths of the interactional synchrony study?

Answer 6

+ Controlled observation = controls of EVs (e.g. environment, recording to catch everyhting)
+ High internal validity
+ Real life application = informs parenting advice promoting strong attachment
+ Use of babies eliminates demand characteristics
+ High mundane realism

Question 7

What are some limitations of the interactional synchrony study?

Answer 7

– Must infer the meaning behind babies behaviour, cannot truly understand purpose
– Low ecological validity due to unnatural/unfamiliar environment - investigating at home may produce more valid behaviour