Caregiver-Infant Interactions Flashcards
(11 cards)
What is reciprocity in caregiver-infant interactions?
It’s an interaction where the caregiver and infant respond to each other’s signals, forming the basis of attachment.
Give an example of reciprocity.
A caregiver smiles and the baby responds by making a sound.
What did Feldman and Eidelman (2007) find about reciprocity?
Babies have alert phases and caregivers respond around two-thirds of the time.
What is interactional synchrony?
It’s the rhythmic, coordinated exchange where caregiver and infant mirror each other’s actions and emotions.
Give an example of interactional synchrony.
Mother and baby smiling at the same time.
What did Meltzoff and Moore (1977) find about interactional synchrony?
Synchrony was observed in infants as young as 2 weeks old.
What did Isabella et al. (1989) find about synchrony and attachment?
High levels of synchrony were linked to better quality of attachment.
How do filmed observations strengthen caregiver-infant research?
They increase accuracy, allow review by multiple observers, and reduce bias, improving reliability and validity.
Why is it difficult to interpret babies’ movements in these studies?
Babies’ movements may be random or reflexive, making it hard to tell if they are intentional, reducing validity.
What is a limitation regarding developmental importance?
While synchrony and reciprocity are observed, their direct role in attachment development is unclear.
Although observed,
it may not necessarily indicate attachment strength.
What ethical concern arises from research into reciprocity and synchrony?
It may pressure parents to behave a certain way, raising ethical issues and impacting parenting practices.
