A03

• X problem testing infant behaviour?

  • infants mouth are in constant motion
  • expressions tested for may be confused with other movements rather than synchrony
  • e.g tongue thrust reflex babies are born with includes sticking tongue out
  • difficult to distinguish between general physical activity & imitation
  • ? internal
  • not certain these expressions are in direct response to cg
  • cannot accurately measure extent to which they reinforce att bond due to confounding variables
• X culturally bias research?

  • reciprocity & i.s found in western cultures
  • e.g reported that kenyan mothers have little interaction with their kids but still go onto form normal att
  • ? population
  • these cg interaction not essential for att in all countries
  • findings cannot be generalised to att in wider population
• * research used controlled observations?

  • observations of mother - infant interactions well controlled & filmed so fine details can be recorded & analysed
  • babies do not know they are being observed/understand purpose of research so behaviour is natural
  • reliable & valid
  • rm used are well controlled & standardised
  • allows for replicability
  • nature of sample means no risk of dcs influencing results
  • increases ecological validity
• X observations do not explain behaviour?

  • feldman 2012 points out that r & i.s simply describe behaviours that occur
  • does not tell us purpose of these behaviours that babies demonstrate
  • ? internal
  • observational methods used to identify these interactions do not explain why infant behaves this way
  • cannot establish cause & effect relationship between infants behaviour & formation of att bond
• * imitative behaviour forms basis for social development

  • meltzoff 2005 believes that by imitating cg behaviour associating their own actions with this behaviour & then projecting their internal experiences onto others infants begin to understand mental state of others
  • reseach into r & i.s explains how children begin to understand what others think & feel
  • fundamental for conducting social relationship
  • evidence to support that these aspects of cg infant interactions are essential for forming & reinforcing att bond