caregiver-infant interaction

• What do psychologists believe about caregiver-infant interactions?

  They have important functions for the child's social development.
• How are good quality early social interactions associated with child development?

  They are linked to the successful development of attachments.
• What is reciprocity in caregiver-infant interactions?

  It is when each person responds to the other and elicits a response.
• What is an example of reciprocity in caregiver-infant interactions?

  A caregiver responds to a baby's smile by speaking, eliciting a response from the baby.
• What is 'turn-taking' in the context of interactions?

  It is an essential part of conversation where each person alternates speaking.
• What are 'alert phases' in babies?

  They are periods when babies signal they are ready for interaction.
• How often do mothers typically respond to their baby's alertness?

  About two-thirds of the time.
• What factors can influence a mother's response to a baby's alertness?

  Mother's skill and external factors such as stress.
• How does interaction frequency change as babies grow older?

  It tends to become increasingly frequent around three months.
• What does the traditional view of childhood suggest about babies' roles?

  That babies are in a passive role, receiving care from adults.
• How do both caregivers and babies participate in interactions?

  Both can initiate interactions and take turns doing so.
• How did T. Berry Brazelton describe the interaction between caregivers and babies?

  As a 'dance' where each partner responds to the other's moves.
• What is interactional synchrony?

  It is when two people carry out the same action simultaneously.
• How is interactional synchrony defined according to Feldman?

  As 'the temporal co-ordination of micro-level social behaviour.'
• At what age did Meltzoff and Moore observe the beginnings of interactional synchrony?

  As young as 2 weeks old.
• What method did Meltzoff and Moore use to study interactional synchrony?

  An adult displayed facial expressions or gestures, and the baby's response was filmed.
• What did the study by Meltzoff and Moore find about babies' responses?

  Babies' expressions and gestures mirrored those of the adults more than chance would predict.
• Why is interactional synchrony believed to be important?

  It is important for the development of caregiver-infant attachment.
• What did Russell Isabella's study find about synchrony and attachment quality?

  High levels of synchrony were associated with better quality mother-baby attachment.
• What is one strength of filmed observation in caregiver-infant interaction research?

  It allows for control of distracting activities.
• Why is it beneficial to use films in caregiver-infant interaction research?

  Because observations can be recorded and analyzed later.
• How does filmed observation enhance the reliability of research findings?

  More than one observer can record data to establish inter-rater reliability.
• Why is it important that babies do not know they are being observed?

  Because their behavior does not change in response to observation.
• What does the reliability and validity of data collected in filmed observations imply?

  That the data collected should be trustworthy and accurate.
• What is a limitation of observing babies in caregiver-infant interaction research?

  It is hard to interpret a baby's behavior.
• Why is it difficult to interpret a baby's behavior?

  Because young babies lack coordination and their movements are subtle.
• What challenge arises when trying to determine the meaning of a baby's movements?

  We cannot know if a movement is random or triggered by the caregiver.
• What does Ruth Feldman (2012) suggest about simply observing behaviors in infants?

  It does not tell us the developmental importance of those behaviors.
• What does the term "synchrony" refer to in caregiver-infant interactions?

  Patterns of observable caregiver and baby behaviors.
• What is a limitation of observing synchrony in caregiver-infant interactions?

  It may not be particularly useful in understanding child development.
• What evidence suggests that early interactions are important for development?

  Isabella et al. (1989) found that interactional synchrony predicted good quality attachment.
• What are the strengths and limitations of filmed observations in caregiver-infant interaction research?

  Strengths:

  • Control of distracting activities
  • Observations can be recorded and analyzed later
  • Establishes inter-rater reliability

  
  

  Limitations:

  • Hard to interpret a baby's behavior
  • Difficulty determining the meaning of movements
  • Observing behavior does not indicate developmental importance
• What is the significance of interactional synchrony in caregiver-infant interactions?

  • Predicts the development of good quality attachment
  • Indicates the importance of early interactions in development