Caregiver-Infant Interactions - Attachment

Question 1

Definition of Infancy

Answer 1

The pre-speech stage of life, typically the first year or two, is characterised by non-verbal communication between infants and caregivers.

Question 2

Reciprocity

Answer 2

Type of interaction where both infant and caregiver respond to each other’s signals in a coordinated way.

Question 3

Jaffe et al. (1973)
What did he show

Answer 3

Showed that infants coordinate their actions with caregivers.

Question 4

Brazelton (1979)
R

Answer 4

Reciprocity is crucial for later communication, as it allows infants to anticipate responses from others.

Question 5

Interactional Synchrony

Answer 5

Form of interaction where infants mirror the actions and emotions of caregivers, displaying synchronised behaviour.

Question 6

Meltzoff and Moore (1977)

Answer 6

Observed that infants as young as two weeks imitate facial expressions and gestures of adults, laying the foundation for attachment.

Question 7

Isabella and Belsky (1991)
Link

Answer 7

Found a link between high levels of synchrony and quality of attachment.

Question 8

Real Imitation (Meltzoff and Moore)

Answer 8

Meltzoff and Moore argued that infant imitation is intentional. Infants were observed imitating adults’ expressions without being prompted, suggesting it is an innate behaviour.

Question 9

Pseudo-Imitation (Piaget 1962)

Answer 9

Piaget (1962) proposed that imitation is learned and argued that infants’ imitation is only operant conditioning, where they repeat behaviours that elicit positive responses.

Question 10

Controlled Study (Meltzoff and Moore)

Answer 10

Meltzoff and Moore’s controlled observation recorded infants’ responses to specific adult expressions (e.g., tongue protrusion, mouth opening).

Question 11

Findings (Meltzoff and Moore)

Answer 11

Independent observers confirmed high levels of imitation, suggesting that infants are biologically predisposed to imitate caregivers.