Chapter 3 Attachment - Caregiver-infant interactions

Question 1

Research of caregiver-infant interactions - Interactions?

Answer 1

Babies have frequent & important interactions with their caregiver.

Question 2

Research of caregiver-infant interactions - Reciprocity?

Answer 2

• Turn-taking.
• Mothers respond when baby is alert.
• From 3 months becomes more intense & reciprocal.

Question 3

Research of caregiver-infant interactions - Interactional synchrony?

Answer 3

• Same actions simultaneously.
• Interactions co-ordinated from two weeks (Meltzoff & Moore).
• Quality of attachment related to synchrony (Isabella et al).

Question 4

Evaluation of caregiver-infant interactions - Filmed observations? STRENGTH

Answer 4

Capture fine detail, can establish inter-rater reliability & babies not aware of being observed.

Question 5

Evaluation of caregiver-infant interactions - Difficulty observing babies? WEAKNESS

Answer 5

Hard to know meaning of small movements.

Question 6

Evaluation of caregiver-infant interactions - Developmental importance? WEAKNESS

Answer 6

• Observation of behaviour does not tell us about its importance in development.
• CP is that evidence from e.g. Isabella et al. suggests interactional synchrony is important for attachment.

Question 7

Evaluation of caregiver-infant interactions - Practical value vs ethics?

Answer 7

Attachment research as practical value but is contoversial (implications for working mothers).