Caregiver Infant Interactions Flashcards
What is an attachment? (2 marks)
An emotional link between an infant and caregiver, each seek closeness and feel more secure when in the presence of the attachment figure. Interactions between caregiver and infant is when an attachment starts, it is the responsiveness of the caregiver to the infants signals that has a deep effect on the child
What are the 3 ways a psychologist recognises an infant has an attachment?
Proximity
Separation distress
Secure base behaviours
What is proximity
People try to stay physically close to those they are attached to
What is separation distress
People are distressed when an attachment figure leaves their presence
What is secure base behaviour?
We always touch base with our attachment figure regularly return to their attachment
What is interactional synchrony? (2 marks)
Caregiver and infant respond at same time e.g. infant smiles, caregiver smiles back at same time. Ensures infant and caregivers emotions and actions mirror each other
Meltzoff and Moore sample
42 two week old babies
What did adults do in meltzoff and Moore’s study?
Display one of three facial expressions or distinctive gestures, mouth opening or tongue protrusion. Childs resplendent filmed and identified by independent observer. Link between facial expression of adult ad response of baby
What is reciprocity? (2 marks)
Two way, mutual process. Infant and caregiver take turns to respond to each other behaviour/ signals to sustain interaction. Behaviour of one party elicits a response from the other e.g. child puts out arms to be held - caregiver picks up.
What phases to babies have
Alert phases and signal when they are ready for interaction. Mother’s pick up and act on these signals 2/3 times.
What dud brazelton say about reciprocity ?
Both mother and baby initiate interactions and take turns to do so, like a dance where a couple respond to each others moves
What validity does the research lack?
Ecological
Why does research lack ecological validity? WHOLE PEEL
Research in controlled environments e.g. controlled observation with caregiver and infant being filmed
Cant generalise to real life, may not behave in accurate way e.g interact with parent more or less due to new environment
Lowers external validity
What does research have high control over?
Extraneous variables
Why does research have high control over extraneous variables?
Controlled environment
E.g. another researcher in room during observations may distract baby
Cause and effect can be established
Increases internal validity
