Caregiver-infant interactions Flashcards
What can attachment be defined as?
Schaffer - a close emotional relationship between two people, characterised my mutual affection and a desire to remain in proximity.
What are the two caregiver infant interactions?
Reciprocity
Interactional synchrony
What is reciprocity?
Interactions between a caregiver and infant involving a two way mutual responsiveness. The behaviour of each party communicate signals which elicit responses in the other like turn taking.
What is interactional synchrony?
Interactions between a caregiver and infant that are synchronised so that their responses reflect each other. They respond in time to sustain communication, such as mirroring the action.
Who identified the four key behaviours to show attachment?
Maccoby in 1980
What are the four key behaviours to show attachment?
Seeking proximity by child and primary attachment figure
Separation anxiety
Pleasure when reunited
General orientation of behaviour towards primary attachment figure
Is there research to support reciprocity?
Tronick still face experiment. After three minutes of attempted interaction with expressionless mother, infants grow rapidly wary and distressed.
Is there research to support interactional synchrony?
Meltzoff and Moore
Babies were shown facial gestures in order to investigate their abilities to imitate.
Babies aged 12 - 21 days old could imitate gestures.
Are there practical applications of reciprocity?
Still face experiment can show atypical development in children as they may not be showing distress. Picking up problems in early attachment can prevent later problematic behaviour.
Could reciprocity and interactional synchrony be seen as socially sensitive?
Many mothers have to work full time so cannot maintain proximity. Creates an unnecessary pressure.
Is reciprocity and interactional synchrony incomplete in fully understanding infant caregiver interactions?
Only focusses on primary caregiver. Secondary attachments play a role in development.
