Caregiver-infant interactions

Question 1

What is reciprocity?

Answer 1

Each person responds and elicits a response

Sometimes called turn taking

Question 2

What are alert phases?

Answer 2

They signal they are ready for interaction

Question 3

What do the Feldman and Eidelman (2007) and Finegood et al. (2016) studies show?

Answer 3

Mothers typically pick up and respond to alertness 2/3 of time
(finegd) Varies according to skill and stress
From 3 mo, interaction becomes increasingly frequent with both facial and verbal expressions

Question 4

What is active involvement?

Answer 4

Caregiver and baby can initiate interaction, baby not passive
Brazelton et al. (1975) described it as a dance

Question 5

What is interactional synchrony?

Answer 5

‘The temporal co-ordination of micro-level social behaviour’ (Feldman 2007)
Two people doing the same action simultaneously

Question 6

When does this synchrony begin?

Meltzoff and Moore (1977)

Answer 6

(Meltzoff and Moore 1977) saw beginning of interactional synchrony in babies as young as 2 weeks old
Significant association of expressions and gestures
Study of Adult displaying expressions

Question 7

What did Isabella et al. (1989) say about the importance of interactional synchrony?

Answer 7

Observed 30 mothers and babies’ synchrony and other researchers assessed attachment
High levels of synchrony associated with better quality attachment

Question 8

EVAL+: Filmed observations

Answer 8

Filmed in lab
Controlled variables, baby not as distracted
Observations recorded and analysed later
Inter-rater reliability
Covert observation
GOOD RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY

Question 9

EVAL-: Difficulty observing babies

Answer 9

Babies lack co-ordination and are mostly immobile
Movements observed are small and may not be interactional
Difficult to know what is happening from the babies perspective, random or triggered
Cannot be certain of a special meaning

Question 10

EVAL-: Developmental importance

Answer 10

Feldman 2012- ideas like synchrony just give names to patterns of observable behaviours
We do not know the purpose of those behaviours

Question 11

EVAL+: Developmental importance (counterpoint)

Answer 11

Evidence from research to prove that they are important

Isabella et al. (1989) found achievement of synchrony linked to attachment

Question 12

EVAL+: Practical value

Answer 12

Crotwell et al. (2013) found 10 minute Parent-Child Interaction Therapy improved IS in 20 low-income mothers with pre-school children

Question 13

EVAL-: Ethics

Answer 13

Socially sensitive because it can be used against women to stop them from going back to work as it may risk development