Caregiver-infant Interactions

Question 1

Reciprocity definition

Answer 1

When each person responds to the other and elicits a response from them

Question 2

Reciprocity caregiver example

Answer 2

Caregiver responding to a baby’s smile by saying something and in turn elicits a response from the baby.

Question 3

What is alert phases

Answer 3

Babies signal (eye contact) they are ready for an interaction.

Question 4

Feldman ‘alert phase’ study findings

Answer 4

• Found that from birth, babies and their main caregiver spent a lot of time in intense and pleasurable interactions
• babies have alert phases and caregivers reponded to their signals for interaction most of the time

Question 5

Feldman reciprocity findings: around 3 months

Answer 5

The interactions become increasing frequent and involve close attention of verbal signals and facial expressions - interactions are reciprocal

Question 6

Brazen et al idea of reciprocity

Answer 6

Describes interaction as a dance, as caregiver and infant respond to each others moves. - which is important precursor to later communications
- both take an active role, take turns to initiate interactions

Question 7

international synchrony definition

Answer 7

Where an infant mirrors the actions of another person

Question 8

Example of interactional synchrony

Answer 8

An infant imitating behaviours/ emotions of parent/ carer

Question 9

Meltzoff and Moore study (what they did)

Answer 9

Conducted a controlled observation where an adult model would display one of three facial expressions or hand movements and the child’s response was filmed.

Question 10

Meltzoff and Moore study results

Answer 10

There was an association between infant behaviour and adult model, evidencing intentional and active between infant and caregiver.

Question 11

Feldman study year

Answer 11

2007

Question 12

Meltzoff and Moore study year

Answer 12

1977

Question 13

Evaluation: Isabella et al (1989)

Answer 13

Criticisms, only securely attached infants engage in interactional synchrony
- Isabella et al found greater level of attachment = greater level of interactions synchrony
Not all children engage in IS, M+M may have overlooked individual differences.

Question 14

Evaluation: infant behaviour reliability

Answer 14

Criticism, infant behaviour is difficult to reliably test
- difficult to distinguish between general activity and imitate behaviour e.g infant frequently smile, yawn, poke tongue out
Difficult to know ether the behaviour was a response or naturally occurring

Question 15

Evaluation: infant reliability test counterpoint

Answer 15

However, M+M overcame this by using individual assessors and made judgments individually, which Increased internal validity of research