Caregiver-infant interactions

• Caregiver-infant interactions

  Reciprocity

  Both infant and mother respond to each other's signals and each elicits a response from the other.

  Traditionally, baby seen in passive role, receiving care from adult. But seem to take active role. Both can initiate interaction and appear to take turns.
• Caregiver-infant interactions

  Interactional synchrony

  Takes place when mother and infant interact in such a way that their actions and emotions mirror the other.

  Meltzoff and More (1977) found that infants could imitate exactly the gestures of their caregiver's. Isabella et al. (1989) found that high levels of synchrony were associated w/ better quality mother-infant attachment.
• Caregiver-infant interactions- evaluation

  Many studies involving observing interactions between mothers and infants shown same patterns of interaction (Gratier 2003). But merely hand-movements or changes in expression observed. Difficult to be certain what is taking place from infants perspective. So can't be certain of interactions have special meaning.
• Caregiver-infant interactions- evaluation 2

  Observations of mother-infant interaction are generally well-controlled procedures, w/ both mother and infant being filmed, often from multiple angles. Ensures fine details can be recorded and analysed. Babies don't know their being filmed so don't change in response to controlled situation. Increases validity.