Caregiver Infant Interactions AO3

Question 1

✅ How does the research of Le Vine et al. (1994) challenge the necessity of caregiver-infant interactions for attachment formation?

Answer 1

Le Vine et al. (1994) found that Kenyan mothers, who have little physical contact with their infants due to cultural practices, still have infants who form secure attachments. This suggests that direct caregiver-infant interactions may not be essential for attachment formation.

Question 2

✅ Why is the reliability of caregiver-infant interaction research considered high?

Answer 2

Studies like Meltzoff and Moore use well-controlled procedures (e.g., using a pacifier to ensure infants start with the same facial expression), and interactions are often recorded, allowing for test-retest and inter-observer reliability. This increases the reliability of the findings.

Question 3

❌ Why is it difficult to determine what is happening during observations of caregiver-infant interactions?

Answer 3

Infants cannot articulate their thoughts or feelings, making it impossible for researchers to know if their actions (like imitation) are deliberate or meaningful. This limits the validity of the findings.

Question 4

❌ What is a social sensitivity issue related to research on caregiver-infant interactions?

Answer 4

Research may make mothers who return to work early feel guilty, suggesting their children might be disadvantaged without consistent interactional synchrony. This raises ethical concerns.