Caregiver infant interactions

• What is attachment in the context of caregiver-infant interactions?

  Attachment is a close, two-way emotional bond between two individuals.
• What does reciprocity refer to in caregiver-infant interactions?

  Reciprocity is when each person responds to the other in a turn-taking manner.
• What does proximity refer to in the context of attachment?

  Proximity refers to how close the individuals are to each other.
• What is separation distress?

  Separation distress is the emotional distress experienced when separated from a primary attachment figure.
• What is an alert phase in infant interactions?

  An alert phase is when a baby signals they are ready for interactions.
• What is secure base behavior in attachment theory?

  Secure base behavior refers to the primary attachment figure serving as a base for exploration.
• What did Feldman and Elderman (2007) find regarding mothers and alert phases?

  They found that mothers pick up on two-thirds of alert phases.
• What did Feldman (2007) observe about interactions at three months?

  Feldman observed that interactions are frequent at three months.
• How do external factors affect mothers' responses to alert phases according to Finegood et al (2016)?

  Mothers' skills and external factors affect their ability to respond to alert phases.
• How did Brazelton et al (1975) describe caregiver-infant interactions?

  Brazelton described the interactions as a dance, indicating an active process involving both mother and infant.
• What was the purpose of Tronick's still face experiment (1975)?

  The purpose was to observe the child's reaction when the mother suddenly stopped reacting.
• What was the outcome of Tronick's still face experiment on the child?

  The child felt uncomfortable and distressed when the mother stopped reacting.
• What did Meltzoff and Moore (1977) argue about interaction synchrony?

  Meltzoff and Moore argued that synchrony begins as young as two weeks old.
• How did Meltzoff and Moore (1977) study interaction synchrony?

  They filmed babies' responses to an adult displaying one of three facial expressions.
• What did the independent observers find regarding babies' responses in Meltzoff and Moore's study?

  Babies were significantly likely to mirror the adults' facial expressions.
• What did Isabella et al (1989) find about mothers with high levels of synchrony?

  They found that mothers with high levels of synchrony had a better quality of attachment.
• What is interaction synchrony in caregiver-infant interactions?

  Interaction synchrony is the temporal coordination of movements and behaviors between caregiver and infant.
• What are the strengths of filmed observations in studying caregiver-infant interactions?

  • High internal validity
  • High inter-rater reliability
  • Reduced demand characteristics
• What are the difficulties in observing babies during interactions?

  • Subtle movements may not have clear meanings
  • Importance of subtle cues is debated
  • Feldman argues they are observable but not useful
• What are the ethical considerations in researching caregiver-infant interactions?

  • Research can be socially sensitive
  • Claims may label individuals as bad parents
  • Balancing practical value with ethical concerns
• What did Crotwel et al find regarding parent-child interaction therapy?

  Crotwel et al found that 10 minutes of therapy improved interaction synchrony in 20 low-income mothers.
• What is the significance of interaction synchrony in attachment quality?

  Interaction synchrony is positively correlated with better quality attachment.