caregiver-infant interactions

• What is the definition of caregiver-infant interactions?

  A close two-way emotional bond
• Why do infants try to be physically close to their caregivers?

  For a safe and secure base
• What is stranger anxiety?

  Anxiety around a new person
• What is separation anxiety?

  Distress when away from attachment figure
• What are the key interactions in caregiver-infant relationships?

  • Interactional synchrony: responding in time
  • Reciprocity: two-way interaction flow
  • Imitation: infants mimic adult behavior
  • Sensitive responsiveness: adults attend to signals
• What did Meltzoff and Moore study in infants?

  Imitation of facial and manual gestures
• What was the age range of infants in Meltzoff and Moore's study?

  12 to 27 days old
• What was the method used to prevent direct responses in Meltzoff and Moore's study?

  A dummy was placed in infants' mouths
• What did Meltzoff and Moore conclude about infants' ability to imitate?

  It is an innate ability important for development
• What are the strengths of Meltzoff and Moore's study?

  • Clear controlled observation
  • High validity due to detailed analysis
  • Babies unaware of observation, reducing bias
• What are the weaknesses of Meltzoff and Moore's study?

  • Difficult to replicate, lacks reliability
  • Testing babies' behavior is challenging
  • Reactions based on inference, not direct communication
• What practical issues are associated with researching infants?

  Feeding, crying, and other needs
• Why are infants' reactions often based on inference?

  Because they cannot communicate verbally