Lesson 8: Caregiver-Infant Interactions

Question 1

What is Reciprocity?

Answer 1

• Referred to as Turn taking
• A two way, mutual process where each party responds to the other’s signals to continue interaction
• The behaviour from one party elicits a response
• Studies show that infants coordinate their actions with their caregivers in a conversation
• The infants regular signals help the caregiver predict the infants behaviour and respond appropriately
• The sensitivity to the infant behaviour lays the foundation for later attachment

Question 2

What is Interactional Synchrony?

Answer 2

• When adults and babies respond in time to sustain communication
• Caregiver and Infant interact so that their actions mirror each other
• A study found infants (2 weeks) imitated facial and hand movements an adult did
• An adult model displayed 1/3 expression and a dummy was placed in the baby’s mouth to prevent a response. After the dummy was removed, the infants expression was recorded and they found there was an association

Question 3

Evaluation (+)

Answer 3

• Interactional Synchrony has been demonstrated in many studies. A psychologist found infants as young as 3 days could display the behaviour, suggesting imitiation is innate
• A psychologist got mothers to interact with their babies over a video monitor. The babies were then shown a video of the mother not responding to them, and tried to attract her attention. When this failed they stopped responding and shows babies want reciprocity
• A psychologist observed infant behaviour when interacting with an object that looked like a human mouth opening and closing. They didn’t respond, suggesting Interactional synchrony is a specific social response

Question 4

Evaluation (-)

Answer 4

• Babies can’t communicate so psychologists must infer. They do not know infants are trying to communicate
• The expressions tested are ones infants make frequently, so they may not have deliberately imitating the adult model

Question 5

Difficulties investigating Caregiver-Infant Interaction?

Answer 5

• Studied show babies attachment is stronger in lab settings than at home. The study should take place in a natural setting
• Most studies are observational so there could be bias. Can be countered by using 1+ observer
• Practical issues: infants are often asleep/feeding so cannot be observed. Researchers need to use fewer but shorter observation periods
• Extra care needs to be taken for ethics so it doesn’t affect the child or parent