Caregiver-Infant Interactions Flashcards
What is attachment
The formation of a strong, two-way emotional bond between two individuals in which each individual sees the other as necessary for their own emotional security
Outline the 3 behaviours that indicate an attachment has been formed.
- Proximity- child will have a need to be close to caregiver
- Separation distress- child will show distress when separated from caregiver
- 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.
State the two types of infant caregiver interactions
Reciprocity, Interactional synchrony
What is interactional synchrony and why is it important?
When an adult and infant tend to mirror what the other is doing in terms of their facial and body movements and emotions. They do this in a controlled and synchronised way.
It leads to better quality caregiver-infant attachments
What is reciprocity? State the 2 stages
The adult and infant communicate by taking turns and one action elicits a response from the partner. The responses are not necessarily similar as in interactional synchrony.
Alert stage and active involvement
What is the alert stage
Babies periodically signal that they are ready for interaction (e.g. making eye contact) and mother typically pick up and respond around two-thirds 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.
What is active involvement?
Babies take on an active role. Both caregiver and baby can initiate interactions and take turns in doing so.
Brazelton et al. (1975) described this as a ‘dance’- each partner responds to the other person’s moves.
Describe the procedure of Meltzoff and Moore (1977)
Studied 2-3 week olds. Adult model displayed 1 of 3 facial expressions or hand gestures.
A dummy was placed in infant’s mouth- prevent any response.
Dummy was removed and response was filmed
Describe the findings of Meltzoff and Moore (1977)
They found an association between the infant’s behaviour and that of the adult model. Demonstrates that infants will imitate the facial and hand gestures of an adult.
Give one difference between interactional synchrony and reciprocity
During interactional synchrony the responses are similar
2 Strengths of infant caregiver interactions - 1 Counter
No Demand Characteristics with babies:
Do not understand or care that they are being observed so do not change their behaviour. Meltzoff and Moore have a highly controlled procedure without demand characteristics. Babies acting a way they would in an everyday situation. COUNTER - Difficult to test infants behaviour reliably. Mouths in constant motion and expressions such as smiling and sticking out tongue occur frequently. Cannot tell if behaviour is random or specifically imitated.
Value of research:
Forms the basis for social development. Babies begin to acquire an understanding of what others are thinking and feeling which is fundamental for conducting social relationships. Explains how children begin to understand others, enabling them to conduct relationships.
2 Limitations of Infant caregiver interactions.
Overlooks individual differences:
Could be a mediating factor. Isabella et al (1989) found the more securely attached the infant, the greater their level of interactional synchrony. Not all children engage in interactional synchrony and that Meltzoff and Moore may have overlooked this.
Socially sensitive research:
Suggests children may be disadvantaged by specific child rearing practices. Mother’s who return to work shortly after giving birth restrict opportunities for interactional synchrony which is important for development of infant-caregiver attachment. Suggests mothers should not return to work so soon.
