Infant+Caregiver

• What is the important factor in an interaction between caregiver and infant?

  Non-verbal communication
• Why is non-verbal communication important?

  • These interactions may form the basis of attachment between an infant and caregiver.
  • The way both people respond to each other is what determines the formation.
  • The more sensitive the infant and caregiver are to the non-verbal communication, the deeper the connection.
• What did Shaffer (1993) define attachment as?

  • Shaffer (1993) defined attachment as being a close relationship between two people
  • It is defined by mutual affection and a desire to maintain proximity.
• Who identified the 4 behaviours of interaction?

  Maccoby (1980)
• What 4 behaviours did Maccoby identify?

  • Seeking proximity to caregiver
  • Both people experience distress
  • Pleasure in reunification
  • Caregiver is a safe base for exploring
• How many types of interaction are there?

  2
• What is reciprocity?


  • The actions of one partner cause a response from the other one.
  • Research shows that infants coordinate their actions with their caregivers (conversation like).
  • Infants move in a rhythm when interacting with adults by taking turns, as people do in a conversation.
  • This builds later communication skills, the regularity of an infant’s signals allows anticipation and a response to the actions of the infant.
  • Sensitivity of the caregiver allows for later attachment between both of them. 
• What is the key study for interactional synchrony?

  Meltzoff and Moore (1997)
• What is the procedure of Meltzoff and Moore?

  • They used a controlled observation.
  • They chose 4 different stimuli (3 unique faces plus a hand gesture)
  • The study was done using an adult model who displayed one of the stimuli.
  • The video was then judged by observers who did not know what the infant was seen, controlling for expectancy effects (unconscious effect of what they have seen).
  • They could control the video and watch it frame by frame if necessary. 
• What were the findings of Meltzoff and Moore?

  • Observers noted instances of infant tongue protrusions and head movements. Inter-observer reliability was calculated. All scores were greater than 0.92, in high agreement with each other. 
  • Infants as young as 2-3 weeks old imitated specific facial and hand gestures
• What was the conclusion of Meltzoff and Moore (1977)

  There was an association between infant behaviour and adult model, supporting interactional synchrony. 
• What was a positive evaluation of Meltzoff regarding methodology?

  • The interactions use controlled observations.
  • Procedures are controlled with the mother and child being filmed from multiple angles often.
  • This ensures fine details are recorded of behaviour and analysed.
  • Research has high internal validity
• What was a negative methodology evaluation?

  • Behaviour is observed in a controlled environment
  • Studies may not reflect real world behaviour
  • Research may lack ecological validity and not generalise to real life.
• What is a positive evaluation of reciprocity and synchrony regarding real life implications?

  • Research into reciprocity and interactional synchrony means they are important in quality of attachment.
  • These interactions have been found to be important in development of empathy, moral reasoning and language.
  • It is essential that these studies are carried out of interactions as they help parents realise how important the interaction is for the baby.
• What is a supporting study for interactional synchrony?

  • Isabella (1989)
  • She observed 30 mothers and infants.
  • They assessed the degree of synchrony and quality of the attachment between caregiver and infant.
  • High degrees of synchrony were associated with high quality of attachment.
  • This suggests there is a relationship between these 2 factors.
  • This supports interaction’s importance for later attachment
• What is a negative of Isabella's correlation study?

  • The research is correlational
  • The cause and effect cannot be inferred.
  • High levels of interactional synchrony may cause high quality of attachment but it can happen viceversa as well.
  • Other factors can be involved in attachment like personality of an infant.
• What is another supporting study but for showing intentional purpose of synchrony?

  Murray and Trevarthen (1985)
• What was the study of Murray and Trevarthen?

  • Murray and Trevarthen (1985) carried out a study on 2 month olds. In the first condition
  • Babies interacted via a video monitor with their mother.
  • In the second condition, there was a tape of the mother instead so they were not responding to the infant’s facial and bodily gestures.
  • In the second condition, they showed severe distress when attempting to gain the mother’s interest but later became disinterested.
  • This shows infant is trying to get a response and is an intentional partner in the interaction.