Key words:
o Developmental psychology: the study of infant and human development
o Attachment: A close two-way emotional bond between an infant and their caregiver that
endures over time. Can result in proximity-seeking and separation distress
o Americentric: ndings speci c to America
o Ethnocentric: ndings are not able to represent cross cultures
o Maternocentric: researched focused on mothers therefore overlooks role of father
Attachment Lesson 1: What is attachment?
,Developmental psychology: the study of infant and human development
Attachment: A close two-way emotional bond between an infant and their caregiver that endures
over time. Can result in proximity-seeking and separation distress
Caregiver-infant interaction: meaningful social interactions required to develop an attachment
between a caregiver and infant (two types)
▫ Interactional synchrony: Caregiver and babe re ect both the actions and emotions of each
other and do this in a co-ordinated way (MIRROR INTERACTIONS AT THE SAME TIME)
▫ Reciprocity: how two people interact. Caregiver-infant interaction is reciprocal in that both
caregiver and baby respond to each other's signals, and each prompts a response from the
other (TURN TAKING)
Why is it essential to interact with an infant? - Andrew Meltzoff
• They learn more in the rst 5 years of life than any other 5 years, born learning starting from
birth, brain changes with the family behaviour, environmental input and what the family
does it constructs their brain as we interact with them
• Argues nurture is more important as it is their time for socialization and their brain is shaped
and changed based on our interactions with them.
Meltzoff & Moore (1977) - interactional synchrony
• Observed newborn infants (2 weeks old)
• Responding to adult model’s facial expressions
• Infant mirrored behaviours like mouth movements
• The higher the rates of IS the better quality of attachment – Isabella
Brazleton et al
• Care-giver infant interactions in America
• Observed caregivers and their infants and reactions were based on reciprocity
• Respond with similar actions, effective caregivers could anticipate infants' reaction.
Reciprocity can reinforce bond
• Feldman – from around three months 2/3 exchanges are reciprocal
Lessons 2: What is attachment?
Strength + weaknesses of Brazelton
, ✗ Ethnocentric/ Americentric
✗ Demand characteristics due to observations
✓ Supported by Feldman research
✗ Ethical issues
Strengths + weaknesses of Meltzoff and Moore
✗ Maternocentric ndings
✗ Demand characteristics due to observation
Describe what is meant by a structured observation
A structured observation is one with a standardised procedure and aim which can be repeated.
High reliability – Because researchers use pre-de ned categories and a standardised procedure,
structured observations are consistent and replicable, making the data more reliable.
Attachment lesson 3: Role of the father
Social sensitivity -> consequences of research taking place e.g. judgements, stigma
Bowlby (1988): If attachment is a product of how their mother has treated them, it could be
anticipated that it could also happen with the father. He says fathers can ll a role closely by
resembling mother, but this is uncommon. In families with young children the father's role can be
different. Father is more likely to engage in physically active play.
o Developmental psychology: the study of infant and human development
o Attachment: A close two-way emotional bond between an infant and their caregiver that
endures over time. Can result in proximity-seeking and separation distress
o Americentric: ndings speci c to America
o Ethnocentric: ndings are not able to represent cross cultures
o Maternocentric: researched focused on mothers therefore overlooks role of father
Attachment Lesson 1: What is attachment?
,Developmental psychology: the study of infant and human development
Attachment: A close two-way emotional bond between an infant and their caregiver that endures
over time. Can result in proximity-seeking and separation distress
Caregiver-infant interaction: meaningful social interactions required to develop an attachment
between a caregiver and infant (two types)
▫ Interactional synchrony: Caregiver and babe re ect both the actions and emotions of each
other and do this in a co-ordinated way (MIRROR INTERACTIONS AT THE SAME TIME)
▫ Reciprocity: how two people interact. Caregiver-infant interaction is reciprocal in that both
caregiver and baby respond to each other's signals, and each prompts a response from the
other (TURN TAKING)
Why is it essential to interact with an infant? - Andrew Meltzoff
• They learn more in the rst 5 years of life than any other 5 years, born learning starting from
birth, brain changes with the family behaviour, environmental input and what the family
does it constructs their brain as we interact with them
• Argues nurture is more important as it is their time for socialization and their brain is shaped
and changed based on our interactions with them.
Meltzoff & Moore (1977) - interactional synchrony
• Observed newborn infants (2 weeks old)
• Responding to adult model’s facial expressions
• Infant mirrored behaviours like mouth movements
• The higher the rates of IS the better quality of attachment – Isabella
Brazleton et al
• Care-giver infant interactions in America
• Observed caregivers and their infants and reactions were based on reciprocity
• Respond with similar actions, effective caregivers could anticipate infants' reaction.
Reciprocity can reinforce bond
• Feldman – from around three months 2/3 exchanges are reciprocal
Lessons 2: What is attachment?
Strength + weaknesses of Brazelton
, ✗ Ethnocentric/ Americentric
✗ Demand characteristics due to observations
✓ Supported by Feldman research
✗ Ethical issues
Strengths + weaknesses of Meltzoff and Moore
✗ Maternocentric ndings
✗ Demand characteristics due to observation
Describe what is meant by a structured observation
A structured observation is one with a standardised procedure and aim which can be repeated.
High reliability – Because researchers use pre-de ned categories and a standardised procedure,
structured observations are consistent and replicable, making the data more reliable.
Attachment lesson 3: Role of the father
Social sensitivity -> consequences of research taking place e.g. judgements, stigma
Bowlby (1988): If attachment is a product of how their mother has treated them, it could be
anticipated that it could also happen with the father. He says fathers can ll a role closely by
resembling mother, but this is uncommon. In families with young children the father's role can be
different. Father is more likely to engage in physically active play.
