Caregiver - infant interactions in humans

Question 1

What is reciprocity

Answer 1

Caregiver - infant interaction is reciprocal, i.e. each persons interactions affect the other

Question 2

What are alert phases

Answer 2

From birth babies signal when they are ready to interact (e.g. eye contact)

Question 3

What is meant by active not passive with babies interacting

Answer 3

Babies don’t just respond, they initiate interaction (turn - taking ‘dance’)

Question 4

What is interactional synchrony

Answer 4

a simultaneous interaction between the infant and the caregiver who appear to be acting rhythmically, with matching, coordinated behaviour and matching emotional states. (‘mirroring’).

Question 5

What is attachment

Answer 5

infants and caregivers develop deep and lasting emotional bonds. Both members of this emotional relationship seek closeness and feel more secure when close to their attachment figure. The strengths of the bonds can be seen in complex two -way caregiver - infant interactions such as reciprocity and interactional synchrony.

Question 6

What do babies and mothers (or other carers spend a lot of time in from birth

Answer 6

Intense and pleasurable interaction

Question 7

What phases do babies go through periodically and what occurs during these phases

Answer 7

They have periodic ‘alert phases’ and signal they are ready for interaction, which mothers respond to around two thirds of the time. (Feldman and Eidelman 2007)

Question 8

What is the word given for a mutual turn - taking form of interaction

Answer 8

Reciprocity

Question 9

What do infants and caregivers do during a reciprocal interaction

Answer 9

Both contribute to the interaction by responding to the others signals and cues

Question 10

What is meant by imitation between a caregiver and infant

Answer 10

When the infant directly copies the caregivers expression

Question 11

What is meant by the term sensitive responsiveness

Answer 11

When the adult caregiver correctly interprets the meaning of the infants communication and is motivated to respond appropriately. E.g. provide milk or change nappy when infant shows distress

Question 12

What is child directed speech (CDS)

Answer 12

The adult caregiver talks in a ‘sing song’ tone, modulating their voice by slowing it down and raising the pitch; this voice modulation helps keep the infants attention

Question 13

what is the significance of bodily contact between caregiver and infant

Answer 13

physical interactions help to form the attachment bond in the very early period, particularly, immediately after birth.

Question 14

What were Meltzoff and Moore’s findings in their study

Answer 14

Infants as young as 2 or 3 weeks old imitated specific facial and hand gestures.

Question 15

Describe the procedures of Meltzoff and Moores study

Answer 15

The study was conducted using an adult model who displayed one of 3 facial expressions or hand movements where the fingers moved in a sequence.
A dummy was placed in the infants mouth during the initial display to prevent any response.
Following the display the dummy was removed and the Childs expression filmed

Question 16

Give an evaluation of reciprocity in infant caregiver interactions based on research support (Strength)

Answer 16

Meltzoff and Moore (1977): An experiment displayed facial gestures such as sticking a tongue out and opening their mouth in shock to 12 - 23 day old infants. Recordings of the infants responses were rated by people blind to the experiment, it was found infant responses matched the experimenters facial expressions. These results suggest the ability to observe and reciprocate through imitation is present from a very early age.

Question 17

Give an evaluation of interactional synchrony in caregiver-infant interactions based on research support (Strength)

Answer 17

Condon and Sander (1974): Videotaped interactions between adults and neonates, focusing on the movements of the neonates in response to adult speech. Using a detailed frame by frame analysis of the video recordings, they found evidence of interactional synchrony / coordination between the neonates movements and the rhythmic pattern of the adults speech. These results suggest even from birth, humans have an innate ability for social interaction.