Caregiver-infant interactions

• Attachment is a two way emotional tie to a specific other person, typically the mother.
• Interactional synchrony is the co-ordinated rhythmic exchanges between the caregiver and infant.
• Reciprocity is the interaction of similar behaviour patterns between the carer and infant.
• Interactions that help to maintain and develop attachment:

  • Bodily contact - physical interactions between carer and infant, especially in the period immediately after birth.
  • Mimicking - The ability to imitate carers' facial expressions.
  • Caregiverese - A modified form of vocal language that is high pitched, slow and repetitive.
• Schaffer's stages of attachment development

  • Pre-attachment (birth - 3 months).
  • Indiscriminate attachment (3 months – 7/8 months).
  • Discriminate attachment (7/8 months).
  • Multiple attachments (9 months +).
• Schaffer's Stages of attachment description:

  • Pre-attachment - Infants become attracted to other humans, preferring them to objects and events. This is demonstrated through their smiling at people's faces.
  • Indiscriminate attachment - Infants identifying familiar and unfamiliar people, smiling at more known people but will still allow strangers to handle them.
• Separation distress - When babies cry when left alone or when their mothers leave the room.
• Schaffer's Stages of attachment description:

  • Discriminate attachment - Infants develop specific attachments, staying close to particular people and becoming distressed when separated from them. They avoid unfamiliar people and protest if strangers try to handle them.
  • Multiple attachments - Infants form strong emotional ties with other caregivers (e.g. grandparents) and non caregivers, like other children. The fear of strangers weaken but attachment to the mother figure remains strongest.
• Multiple attachments are the formation of emotional bonds with many carers.
• Stranger anxiety is the distress shown by infants when in the presence of unfamiliar people.
• The role of the father:

  • Traditionally fathers have been seen to play a minor role in the parenting of their children.
• Sensitive responsiveness is the recognising and responding appropriately to infants' needs.
• Factors affecting the relationship between fathers and children:

  • Degree of sensitivity
  • Martial intimacy
  • Supportive co-parenting
  • Type of attachment with own parents
• Factors affecting the relationship between father and children

  • Degree of sensitivity - most secure attachments to their children are found in fathers who show more sensitivity to children's needs.
  • Martial intimacy - the degree of intimacy a father has with his partner affects the type of attachment with his children.
  • Type of attachment with own parents - sing-parent fathers tend to form similar attachments with their children that they had with their own parents.
  • Supportive co-parenting - the amount of support a father gives to his partner in helping care for children affects it.
• Research into father involvement suggests that there is no difference in the quality of relationships formed between mothers and fathers.