Early Mother/Child Interaction

Question 1

Describe the circle of security

Answer 1

• parents act as a ‘safe haven’ and ‘secure base’ to allow their children to explore things in life knowing they have security and protection to come back to
• allows them to do it safely

Question 2

What are factors that the child can contribute to the interaction with their parents?

Answer 2

• difficult temperament
• premature birth
• medical conditions
• hospitalisations, separations
• failure to thrive
• neurological impairments

Question 3

What are the factors that the parent can contribute to the interaction with their children?

Answer 3

• parental mental health (perinatal depression and anxiety)
• parent’s own parenting experiences (abuse/neglect/attachment)
• parent’s attributions/beliefs
• being on their phone all the time (impacts quality of interaction)

Question 4

What are some environmental factors that can impact the interaction between parent and child?

Answer 4

• poverty
• violence: vitctim/witness
• lack of social support
• multiple caregivers
• high stress from marital conflict
• lack of stimulation

Question 5

Describe the theory of ‘mentalisation’ and the importance of it to the attachment theory between parent and child

Answer 5

• mentalisation is the ability to reflect upon and understand one’s state of mind; to have insight into what one is feeling and why
• important because if caregivers are unable to reflect on their child’s state of mind or when this feedback to children is either missing or inaccurate children are unable to fully develop the capacity to mentalise
• they don’t learn to understand their own thoughts, feelings, motivations, or that of others

Question 6

Describe the containment theory and what a person with good containment has

Answer 6

• containment is the ability to ‘contain’ your own emotions so that they don’t spill over inappropriately onto your child

Good containment is someone who is:

• receptive
• able to hold on to another persons difficult feelings without being overwhelmed themselves
• males calm and thoughtful attempts to understand the problem
• can convey a feelings that what the other person is feeling is tolerable, meaningful and manageable

Question 7

What is the purpose of lookaway and what are some behaviours that exhibit this?

Answer 7

• a baby’s attempts to self regulate as well as process information so immature nervous system is not overwhelmed
• withdrawing from too much/inappropriate stimulation
• turning away/shrinking from it
• rejecting it by pushing it away
• decreasing its power to disturb by withdrawing attention
• signalling behaviour by crying, fussing, laughing, yawning

Question 8

What is reciprocity?

Answer 8

• when both parent and child is involved in the initiation, regulation and termination of interaction
• fundamental part of attachment