Synchrony

• Define attachment-

  -A close 2 way emotional bond between 2 individuals in which each individual sees the other as essential for their own emotional security and in which they seek proximity to each other
• -From around 3 months of age, interactions tend to be frequent and close attention is paid to each other's verbal and facial expressions.
• Reciprocity-

  -This is when parent and child respond to each others signals and each elicits a response from each other
• Feldman and Eidelman (2007)-

  Babies have 'alert' periods and signal that they are ready for interaction. Mother typically pick up on this alertness around 2/3 of the time.
• Traditional views of childhood have seen the infant as being passive however, it seems the infant takes active role with mother and child taking turns

  Brazleton stated these interactions are like a 'dance' because each respond to other's actions
• Interactional synchrony-

  -This is the temporary coordination of infant and care giver responses, actions and emotions mirror the other
• Interactional synchrony study- Meltzoff & Moore (1977)

  -Controlled observation using 2 week olds. They selected 4 different stimuli (3 facial expressions & hand gesture) and observed behaviour of infants in response

  -Observers watch video tapes of infants behaviour, had no knowledge of what infant had seen.

  -Each observer was asked to note all instances of tongue protrusions and had movements using behavioural categories

  -Each observer scored video twice
• Strength - Validity

  -It uses well controlled procedures

  -Mother infant interactions are usually recorded from multiple angles

  -This means that fine details of behaviour can be analysed later

  -Therefor, it has good validity
• Define the term validity-

  Refers to whether something is true or legitimate
• Limitation- Interpretation

  -When observing infants, it may be difficult to know what is merely a hand movement and what is a direct interaction

  -This means we can't really know for certain that behaviours seen in mother infant interactions have a special meaning

  -Therefore, may be open to interpretation, researchers by may open to bias, research may not be objective
• Weakness - Bias

  -Feldman(2012) points out that synchrony and reciprocity simply describes behaviours that happen at the same time.

  -Whilst they can be directly observed they dont tell the purpose of them

  -Therefore, may be open to bias. Researchers may have to infer. Not very objective so results could lack validity
• Limitation- Child rearing practices


  -Research is socially sensitive, because it would suggest a child may be disadvantaged by specific child-rearing practices, or if mother decides to return to work shortly after child is born as it will reduce opportunities for achieving interactional synchrony

  -This therefore, has obvious socially sensitive implications so when looking at research we need to be mindful not to make judgement about child rearing practices
• Strength - Real world applications 


  -Has real world applications and potential value to society

  -Identification of importance of interactional synchrony in developing high quality attachment has led to development of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).

  -Crotwell(2013) found that 10 mins therapy improved interactional synchrony in 20 low income mothers and pre school infant compared to control group

  -Therefore, this research has had positive impact on society