Caregiver-infant interaction

• Active involvement study

  Brazelton et al (1975):

  Described it as the 'dance', each partner responds to their other person's moves.
• Study showing support for interactional synchrony 


  Meltzoff and Moore (1977):

  • Studied 2-3 week olds. Adult model displayed 1 of 3 facial expressions or hand movements.
  • A dummy was placed in infant’s mouth- prevent any response.
  • Dummy was removed and response was filmed
• Findings of Melztoff and Moore (1977)


  Infants will imitate the facial and hand gestures of the adult model
• Overlooks individual differences study support

  Isabella et al (1989):

  • Found that more securely attached the infant, the greater the level of interactional synchrony
• 2 care-giver infant interactions

  1. Reciprocity
  2. Interactional synchrony