Caregiver-infant interactions

• Attachment is an emotional bond between two people seeking closeness and security in the presence of the attachment figure
• Attachment between a caregiver and an infant endures over time and serves to protect the infant
• Signs of attachment include:

  • Proximity: staying physically close to those they are attached to
  • Separation distress: being distressed when the attachment figure leaves
  • Secure-base behavior: making regular contact with attachment figures, returning to them while playing to explore
• Infants seek closeness and security in the presence of the attachment figure
• Caregiver-infant interactions involve any person providing care for a child (caregiver) and a child in their first year of life (infant)
• Caregiver-infant interactions are crucial for social development and form the basis of attachment
• Reciprocity in caregiver-infant interactions:

  • Description of how two people interact
  • Mother-infant interaction is reciprocal, with both responding to each other's signals
  • Initiating interactions and sensitivity lay the foundation for attachment
• Interactional synchrony in caregiver-infant interactions:

  • Reflecting each other's actions and emotions in a coordinated way
  • Involves mirroring facial and body movements
• Interactional synchrony differs from reciprocity as responses are not necessarily similar
• Biological preparedness for survival in future environments is innate in babies and aids in bonding between infant and caregiver
• Research support for interactional synchrony:

  • Meltzoff and Moore (1977) observed beginnings of interactional synchrony in two-week-old infants
  • Isabella et al (1989) found higher levels of synchrony in infants with stronger attachment
  • Controlled observations help in studying these interactions
• Evaluation of research on interactional synchrony:

  • Challenges in interpreting infant behavior during observations
  • Pseudo-imitation may occur where infants repeat behavior rewarded by caregivers
  • Observations lack insight into the purpose of synchrony and reciprocity
  • Evidence suggests these interactions aid in attachment and development
• Abravanel and DeYong (1991)

  Observed behaviour when ‘interacting’ with two objects

  One stimulating tongue movements and the other opening/closing mouth

  Found the infants made little response to the objects

  Conclusion that it is hard to tell as infants mouth’s are always moving, therefore may not be a conscious form of imitation