caregiver-infant interactions in humans

Question 1

What is bodily contact?

Answer 1

Physical contact between the carer and infant

Question 2

what is mimicking?

Answer 2

infants seem to have an ability to imitate carer’s facial expressions

Question 3

what is caregiverese?

Answer 3

adults use a modified form of vocal language which is high pitched, song-like and slow

Question 4

what is interactional synchrony?

Answer 4

the co-ordinated rhythmic exchanges between carer and infant

Question 5

what is reciprocity?

Answer 5

the interaction of similar behavioural patters between carer and infant

Question 6

what is the research for bodily contact?

Answer 6

Klaus and Kennell (1976)

• compared mums who had extended physical contact with their child with mums who only had contact during feeding in first 3 days of birth
• one month later the mums with greater physical contact cuddled their babies more

Question 7

what is the reserach for mimicking?

Answer 7

melzoff and moore (1977)

• found infants aged 2-3 weeks tended to mimic adults specific hand movements and facial expressions
• supports idea that infant mimicry is an innate ability to aid the formation of attachments

Question 8

what is the research for caregiverese?

Answer 8

papousek et al (1991)
-found tendency to use rising tone to show an infant it was their turn to interact was cross cultural as americans germans and chinese used it also.

Question 9

what is the research into interactional synchrony?

Answer 9

condor and sander (1974)
-analysed frame by frame video recordings of infants movements to find they co-ordinated their actions in sequence with Adult’s speech to form a kind of turn-taking conversation, supporting the idea of interactional synchrony

Question 10

what is attachment?

Answer 10

a two way enduring emotional tie to a specific other person

Question 11

what are the two types of evidence for attachment?

Answer 11

separation anxiety and stranger anxiety