caregiver-infant interactions

• What is reciprocity in caregiver-infant interactions?

  Interaction where one person's action prompts another's
• How do infants interact with their caregivers?

  Infants respond to caregivers' signals and expressions
• When do babies show reciprocity to caregivers?

  From birth
• What do babies do during periods of alertness?

  They are more receptive to interaction
• How often should caregivers detect infants' alertness signals?

  About two-thirds of the time
• What can affect the detection of alertness signals?

  Stress and distractions
• How is the interaction between infant and caregiver described?

  As a two-way process with active involvement
• Who described the interaction between infants and caregivers as a 'dance'?

  Brazelton et al. (1975)
• What does the reciprocal relationship between infant and caregiver establish?

  Foundations for secure attachment
• Who devised the Still Face Experiment?

  Tronick (1972)
• What is the procedure of the Still Face Experiment?

  • Infant sits face to face with caregiver
  • Caregiver interacts and responds to cues
  • Caregiver turns away for a few seconds
  • Caregiver returns with a 'still face' for two minutes
  • Caregiver resumes normal interaction
• What behavior do infants show during the first phase of the Still Face Experiment?

  Engagement and reciprocity with the caregiver
• What changes occur in infants' behavior during the 'still face' phase?

  1. Confusion
  2. Attempts to initiate response
  3. Distress and frustration
  4. Loss of postural control
  5. Withdrawal from interaction
• What happens during the repair phase of the Still Face Experiment?

  Infants are relieved and responsive again
• What does the Still Face Experiment suggest about infants?

  They seek emotional connection with caregivers
• What is interactional synchrony?

  Mirroring of actions between two people
• Why is interactional synchrony important?

  It enables secure attachment between infant and caregiver
• What did Isabella et al. (1989) find about synchrony and attachment?

  Higher synchrony leads to more secure attachment
• What did Meltzoff and Moore (1977) study?

  Interactional synchrony between caregivers and infants
• How did Meltzoff and Moore conduct their study?

  Using facial expressions and hand gestures
• At what age did interactional synchrony begin according to Meltzoff and Moore?

  As young as two weeks old
• What are the strengths of Meltzoff and Moore's study on interactional synchrony?

  • Filmed observations for later analysis
  • High validity due to infants' unaware behavior
  • Evidence supports findings from other studies
• What are the limitations of using infants in research?

  • Difficult to test behaviors accurately
  • Random limb movements complicate observations
  • Hard to distinguish specific actions from general behaviors
• What is a limitation of the Still Face Experiment?

  It may lack ecological validity
• How can observational research be refined using behavioral categories?

  • Tally observations into pre-arranged groupings
  • Provides clear focus for researchers
  • Results in more objective data recording
  • Increases reliability and ease of analysis
• Why is the researcher's interpretation considered subjective?

  It is based on personal opinion and bias