RECIPROCITY & INTERACTIONAL SYNCHRONY

Question 1

Reciprocity

Answer 1

• An example of care-giver interactions is reciprocity.
• An interaction is reciprocal when each person responds to the other and elicits a response from them, in a turn taking conversation, usually non-verbal.

Question 2

Meltztoff and Moore

Answer 2

• an association was found between the gesture the adult had displayed and the actions of the baby.

Question 3

Interactional synchrony

Answer 3

• Synchronised means carrying out the same action simultaneously.
• This interaction takes place when the mother and infant interact and their actions/emotions mirror each other.

Question 4

feldman

Answer 4

• Feldman suggests that interactional synchrony serves a critical role in developmental
  outcomes in terms of self-regulation and the capacity for empathy

Question 5

Important for development of attachment

Answer 5

Higher synchrony = higher quality of attachment - it provides a foundation for mother-infant connection and can be built on over the years

Question 6

One strength of research into CGII is that there is supporting research.

Answer 6

• For example, Isabella et al observed 30 mothers with their infants and assessed the degree of synchrony and the quality of mother-infant attachment.
• High levels of synchrony were associated with better quality attachment. This study demonstrates that synchrony is an accurate way of measuring attachment between the mother and the infant.
• This allows us to better understand signs of attachment shown by infants. Furthermore it allows us to use this method and improve attachment between caregivers and infants

Question 7

One strength of research into CGII is that it uses well controlled procedures.

Answer 7

• For example, such studies are often filmed from many different angles.
• This means that we are able to observe the interactions in clear detail as it is in a naturalistic setting so the infant is comfortable.
• This is an advantage as the naturalistic setting allows us to observe accurate and realistic interactions between thecaregiver and the infant- increases validity of the theory

Question 8

One limitation of research into CGII is there is evidence to suggest such behaviours are only pseudo-imitations.

Answer 8

• For example, piaget suggests that real imitation does not develop till the end of the first year. Anything before that is just an automated response.
• This suggests that we are not measuring what we are supposed to as there is no proof that babies are reciprocating or synchronising behaviours.
• This is a disadvantage because it lacks internal validity as it’s due to chance that the baby is imitating the caregiver’s behaviour rather than the idea of “reciprocity/synchrony”

Question 9

One limitation of research into CGII is that it’s socially sensitive.

Answer 9

• For example, the theory puts immense pressure on mothers as it emphasises on the importance of mother-infant interactions in the child’s life.
• This means that mothers who wish to work and earn a living cannot do so without feeling guilty of the possibility of their child suffering from social defects in the future.
• This is a disadvantage as it restricts women’s role in the family and limits their options / goals in life.

Question 10

Differences between reciprocity and interactional synchrony

Answer 10

• Reciprocity- turn-taking, same behaviour, responds to each other’s behaviours
• interactional synchrony - at the same time, different behaviours, anticipate each other’s moves