Caregiver-Infant Interactions

Question 1

What is reciprocity in the context of caregiver-child interactions?

Answer 1

2 way interaction, mutual response exchange between caregivers and infant. Respond to each other signals like a conversation.

Question 2

According to Meltzoff & Moore (1997), what is the critical period for age imitation?

Answer 2

Birth to 2.5 years.

Question 3

Meltzoff & Moore (1997) (AO1 example of Interactional Synchrony)

Answer 3

Observed babies as young as 2 weeks mimicking adult facial expressions + gestures.
Babies attempted to imitate the gestures and social expressions made by caregivers.
Suggests synchrony plays role in early bonding

Question 4

Define interactional synchrony.

Answer 4

How infants mirror the actions, emotions or behaviours of their caregiver in a co-ordinated way.

Question 5

What role does interactional synchrony serve according to Feldman (2001)?

Answer 5

It plays a critical role in developmental outcomes, including self-regulation and empathy.

Question 6

Example of reciprocity

Answer 6

Smiling back when someone smiles at us

Question 7

Example of interactional synchrony

Answer 7

A baby moving their head in time with their mother

Question 8

Limitation- research socially sensitive

Answer 8

For example, Isabella et al found that high levels of interactional synchrony are associated with secure attachment.
Implies mothers who return to work early, and therefore spend less time with their infants, may hinder the development of secure attachments.
Socially sensitive bc may lead to unjust guilt or pressure on working mothers as research suggests employment decisions could damage the child’s development.

Question 9

Tronik et al (AO1 example of reciprocity)

Answer 9

Still face experiment. Found when mothers stopped responding, infants became distressed. Shows they expect reciprocal interactions

Question 10

Strength- SE, Schaffer and Emerson

Answer 10

Assessed attachment patterns in infants, found were more likely to form attachments with caregivers who responded sensitively and consistently to their signals e.g. crying.
Supports importance of IS (mirroring responses) and reciprocity (2 way interaction), in ensuring infants form attachments with their primary caregivers

Question 11

Limiation- research contains culture bias

Answer 11

Levine et al: found in Kenyan (non-western) cultures, mothers have less physical and face-to-face interaction with their infants than Western mothers yet still formed secure attachments.
Suggests research on caregiver- infant interactions lack universality as Levine highlights the importance of culture context in understanding attachment and how they are formed