caregiver-infant interactions

• What is reciprocity in caregiver-infant interaction?

  It describes mutual responses between caregiver and infant
• How do caregivers and infants demonstrate interactional synchrony?

  They reflect each other's actions and emotions
• What is attachment?

  A close emotional bond between two individuals
• How long does it take for attachment to develop?

  It takes a few months to develop
• What behavior indicates proximity in attachment?

  Staying physically close to the attachment figure
• What is separation distress?

  Anxiety when an attachment figure leaves
• What is secure-base behavior?

  Regular contact with attachment figures during independence
• How do babies and caregivers interact in reciprocity?

  They engage in intense and pleasurable interactions
• What are alert phases in babies?

  Periods when babies signal readiness for interaction
• What did Feldman and Eidelmann (2007) find about mothers responding to alertness?

  Mothers respond to alertness about two-thirds of the time
• How does a mother's skill affect her response to a baby's alertness?

  It can vary according to the mother's skill
• What happens to interaction frequency after three months?

  It becomes increasingly frequent and attentive
• How do babies and caregivers take an active role in interactions?

  Both can initiate interactions and take turns
• What did Brazelton et al (1975) compare caregiver-infant interaction to?


  A dance where partners respond to each other
• What is interactional synchrony according to Feldman (2007)?

  Temporal coordination of micro-level social behavior
• At what age can interactional synchrony begin?

  As young as 2 weeks old
• What did Meltzoff and Moore (1977) observe in their study?

  Babies mirror adults' facial expressions and gestures
• Why is interactional synchrony important for attachment?

  It aids in developing caregiver-infant attachment
• What did Isabella et al (1989) find about synchrony and attachment quality?

  High synchrony is linked to better attachment quality
• What are the strengths of filming caregiver-infant interactions in research?

  • Controls extraneous variables
  • Allows for later analysis of behaviors
  • Enables multiple observers for reliability
  • Babies are unaware of being observed
• What is a limitation of interpreting a baby's behavior?

  It's hard to determine the meaning of actions
• What does Feldman (2012) say about observable behaviors?

  They may not reveal developmental importance
• What evidence supports the importance of early interactions?

  Isabella et al (1989) found synchrony predicts attachment
• What practical applications arise from research into caregiver-infant interaction?

  • Parenting skills training
  • Improved interactional synchrony in parents
  • Evidence from Crotwell et al (2013)
• Why is research into caregiver-infant interaction considered socially sensitive?

  It can imply negative effects of working mothers