Caregiver Infant Intercations Flashcards
(11 cards)
What is attachment?
Strong emotional bond between 2 ppl
Two way process that continues over time and is characterised by a desire to maintain proximity
Outline reciprocity
Where the action of one person (infant) elicits a response from the other person (the mother) and vise versa
2 way mutual interaction where infant and caregiver are both active contributors
They respond to each other / turn taking
Involves close attention to each others verbal signals and facial expressions
Regularity of infants signals allows caregiver to anticipate their behaviour and respond appropriately (sensitivity)
Eg smiling is example of reciprocity
Outline research into reciprocity
Procedure only
Murray and Trevarthen (1985)
Studied 2 month old infants who interacted via video monitor w mother in real time
Then watched video monitor playing taped recording of mother so image on screen not responding to infants facial and bodily gestures
Outline findings and conclusions of research into reciprocity
Infants distressed and tried to attract mothers attention
They gained no response and turned away / gave up
Concluded infants were actively eliciting a response form caregiver
Shows importance of reciprocity when developing attachments
Outline interactional synchrony
When infant and caregiver interact so their behaviour and emotions are mirroring each others /carry out same action simultaneously
IS studied in infants young as 3 days old (suggests innate not learned behaviour -Meltzoff and Moore)
High levels of IS associated w formation of better quality caregiver infant interactions
Outline research into international synchrony procedure
Meltzoff and Moore (1977) used controlled observation - infants young as 2 weeks old
Adults displayed 1 of 3 facial expressions (eg mouth opening) or 1 of 3 distinctive gestures (eg opening hand)
Child’s responses filmed and identified by independent observers
Outline findings and conclusions of research on interactional synchrony
Found association between infant and adult behaviour
Concluded that baby’s ability to mirror their caregiver is innate and aids the formation of attachment
Evaluate caregiver infant interactions using how controlled observations capture fine detail
Strength is methodology used - observations generally well controlled procedures, w both infant and caregiver being filmed (multiple angles)
Means fine details behaviour can be recorder and later analysed
Also, babies don’t know or care they are being observed so their behaviour doesn’t change in response to controlled observation (unlike adults which is problem for observation research)
Suggests research has good internal validity
Evaluate caregiver infant interactions using problems with testing infant behaviour
Difficult to reliably test infant behaviour as infants mouths in fairly constant motion (eg tongue sticking out, yawning) and expressions that are tested occur frequently
Difficult to distinguish between general activity and specific imitated behaviour
Meltzoff and Moore overcame problems by filmed infants and using independent observer to judge behaviour (person judging had no idea what behaviour was being initiated
This increases internal validity
Strength as removes observer bias
Evaluate caregiver infant interactions using practical application
Role of international synchrony in formation of high quality attachments has practical application which benefits society
Crotwell et al (2013) found 10 minutes parent child interaction therapy (included teaching mothers 5 skills) improved IS in 20 low income mothers and their pre school age children compared to control group
Mother’s also used more child directed techniques and their children coded as offering mothers toys more frequently
Suggests research on IS could lead to valuable methods for improving and developing mother infant attachments especially for at risk groups
Evaluate caregiver infant interactions using cultural differences
IS not found in all cultures
Contradicts idea that baby’s ability to imitate caregiver is innate and aids formation for attachments (if innate should be universal)
Cross cultural research eg Le Vine found Kenyan mothers respond promptly to infants distress signals but ignore other vocalisations eg babbling
They rarely look at and speak to infants even when breastfeeding
Taken as sign IS and sensitivity is western construct that is not applicable to rural non western communities
Observational studies highlight good caregiving does not inherently require verbal or face to face interaction
Weakens support for idea caregiver infant interactions are necessary for formation of healthy attachments
