Caregiver infant interaction
A01
• Attachment – 2 way emotional bond between 2 individuals in which each
individual sees the other as essential for their own emotional security –
attachment takes few months to develop
• Recognise attachment when there is proximity, separation distress, secure
base behaviour (try make regular contact)
• Reciprocity – carer and baby respond to each others signals and elicit
response from one another
• Alert phases - babies have periodic phases in which they signal that they are
ready for interaction
• Active involvement – both have active role, initiate interactions and
reciprocate behaviours
• Interactional synchrony – they reflect actions and emotions of the other and
do it in a co ordinated way, mirror eo
• Meltzoff and Moore – observed beginnings of interactional synchrony
Adult displayed 1 of 3 facial expressions, 1 of 3 distinctive gestures, babies
response filmed and labelled by independent observers
Found IS begins at 2 weeks, babies mirror adults
• Isabella et al observed 30 mothers and babies tg – found high levels of
synchrony is associated with better quality mother baby attachment
A03
Strengh: filmed observations
P - filmed in laboratory
E - Evans and porter investigated reciprocity, interactional synchrony, attachment
between 101 mothers and their infants. Interactions filmed-let researchers control for
variables which may distract the baby.
E - suggests researchers can analyse the interactions in detail, often frame-by-frame
- the recordings can be reviewed multiple times by different observers.
Increases inter-rater reliability, as consistent results can be achieved across
multiple coders
The recordings can be stored and used to make cross-cultural or longitudinal
comparisons, enhancing applicability/temporal validity of the findings.
L - Therefore, the use of filmed lab observations is a strength as it allows for more
accurate, reliable, and valid data collection - supports the robustness of conclusions
drawn about caregiver-infant interactions
,Limitation: difficulty observing babies
P - Difficult to interpret a baby’s behaviour
E – For example, infants have limited motor control, and their movements are often
subtle, like small hand gestures or slight changes in facial expression.
These behaviours may not be intentional or directed towards the caregiver, yet
researchers often infer social or emotional meaning from them.
E – This means that it is difficult to determine whether the infant is actively engaging
in interaction or simply moving randomly - researchers may misinterpret.
spontaneous or reflexive actions as signs of reciprocity or synchrony - lowers the
internal validity of the research.
If interpretations vary between observers, this could reduce inter-rater reliability
L - Therefore, the uncertainty around interpreting infant behaviour undermines the
credibility of conclusions drawn about caregiver-infant interaction, as it becomes
unclear whether the observed behaviours are meaningful responses or coincidental
movements.
Limitation – developmental importance
P – simply observing behaviour doesn’t tell is the development importance of infants
E – Feldman argues concepts like reciprocity and interactional synchrony are just
descriptive as they label patterns in behaviour without explaining their function or
purpose in child development
E – suggests that although these interactions can be reliably identified and recorded,
observational data alone cant determine whether these behaviours play a crucial role
in emotional or cognitive development.
WO evidence from longitudinal or experimental research, we cant establish
causality or understand the application of these behaviours to developmental
outcomes.
L – while the studies may have strong reliability, they lack construct and external
validity, as they dont explain whether/how caregiver-infant behaviours contribute to
long-term developmental progress
, Role of the father
A01
• in attachment research the role of the father is anyone who takes on the role
as the male caregiver
• does not need to be biological father
• schaffer and emerson - only 3% of cases father was primary attachment
figure
• grossman et al - investigated if attachment to fathers has a role to child
development
infants were studied till they were teens
looked at parents behaviour and rs quality to infants, infants later attachment
to ppl
found that qualify of infants attachment with mothers but not fathers was
related to attachments in adolescence
he found that they have a different role - play and stimulation
• primary attachment figures form the basis of later close emotional rs
Field investigated
he filmed 4 month old infants in face to face interaction with primary caregiver
mothers and primary/secondary caregiver fathers
he found that primary caregiver fathers and mothers spent more time smiling
and holding infants than secondary caregiver fathers
this suggests that primary caregivers can provide more support than
secondary
A03
S – offering parental advice
S - practical application in informing parental decision-making.
E - new parents can sometimes agonise over decisions like who should take on the
primary caregiver role.
Mothers may feel pressured to stay home because of the stereotypical role of
mothers.
Similarly, fathers may be pressured to focus on work rather than parenting –
although this may not be the economically best solution.
E - This highlights how research into the role of the father can be used to offer
reassuring advice for parents.
Such findings enhance the social utility of psychological research by reassuring
families that non-traditional caregiving arrangements do not disadvantage children's
development, and by promoting more flexible, inclusive models of parenting.
For example, heterosexual parents can be informed that fathers are quite capable of
become primary attachment figures. Additionally, lesbian-parent and single-mother
A01
• Attachment – 2 way emotional bond between 2 individuals in which each
individual sees the other as essential for their own emotional security –
attachment takes few months to develop
• Recognise attachment when there is proximity, separation distress, secure
base behaviour (try make regular contact)
• Reciprocity – carer and baby respond to each others signals and elicit
response from one another
• Alert phases - babies have periodic phases in which they signal that they are
ready for interaction
• Active involvement – both have active role, initiate interactions and
reciprocate behaviours
• Interactional synchrony – they reflect actions and emotions of the other and
do it in a co ordinated way, mirror eo
• Meltzoff and Moore – observed beginnings of interactional synchrony
Adult displayed 1 of 3 facial expressions, 1 of 3 distinctive gestures, babies
response filmed and labelled by independent observers
Found IS begins at 2 weeks, babies mirror adults
• Isabella et al observed 30 mothers and babies tg – found high levels of
synchrony is associated with better quality mother baby attachment
A03
Strengh: filmed observations
P - filmed in laboratory
E - Evans and porter investigated reciprocity, interactional synchrony, attachment
between 101 mothers and their infants. Interactions filmed-let researchers control for
variables which may distract the baby.
E - suggests researchers can analyse the interactions in detail, often frame-by-frame
- the recordings can be reviewed multiple times by different observers.
Increases inter-rater reliability, as consistent results can be achieved across
multiple coders
The recordings can be stored and used to make cross-cultural or longitudinal
comparisons, enhancing applicability/temporal validity of the findings.
L - Therefore, the use of filmed lab observations is a strength as it allows for more
accurate, reliable, and valid data collection - supports the robustness of conclusions
drawn about caregiver-infant interactions
,Limitation: difficulty observing babies
P - Difficult to interpret a baby’s behaviour
E – For example, infants have limited motor control, and their movements are often
subtle, like small hand gestures or slight changes in facial expression.
These behaviours may not be intentional or directed towards the caregiver, yet
researchers often infer social or emotional meaning from them.
E – This means that it is difficult to determine whether the infant is actively engaging
in interaction or simply moving randomly - researchers may misinterpret.
spontaneous or reflexive actions as signs of reciprocity or synchrony - lowers the
internal validity of the research.
If interpretations vary between observers, this could reduce inter-rater reliability
L - Therefore, the uncertainty around interpreting infant behaviour undermines the
credibility of conclusions drawn about caregiver-infant interaction, as it becomes
unclear whether the observed behaviours are meaningful responses or coincidental
movements.
Limitation – developmental importance
P – simply observing behaviour doesn’t tell is the development importance of infants
E – Feldman argues concepts like reciprocity and interactional synchrony are just
descriptive as they label patterns in behaviour without explaining their function or
purpose in child development
E – suggests that although these interactions can be reliably identified and recorded,
observational data alone cant determine whether these behaviours play a crucial role
in emotional or cognitive development.
WO evidence from longitudinal or experimental research, we cant establish
causality or understand the application of these behaviours to developmental
outcomes.
L – while the studies may have strong reliability, they lack construct and external
validity, as they dont explain whether/how caregiver-infant behaviours contribute to
long-term developmental progress
, Role of the father
A01
• in attachment research the role of the father is anyone who takes on the role
as the male caregiver
• does not need to be biological father
• schaffer and emerson - only 3% of cases father was primary attachment
figure
• grossman et al - investigated if attachment to fathers has a role to child
development
infants were studied till they were teens
looked at parents behaviour and rs quality to infants, infants later attachment
to ppl
found that qualify of infants attachment with mothers but not fathers was
related to attachments in adolescence
he found that they have a different role - play and stimulation
• primary attachment figures form the basis of later close emotional rs
Field investigated
he filmed 4 month old infants in face to face interaction with primary caregiver
mothers and primary/secondary caregiver fathers
he found that primary caregiver fathers and mothers spent more time smiling
and holding infants than secondary caregiver fathers
this suggests that primary caregivers can provide more support than
secondary
A03
S – offering parental advice
S - practical application in informing parental decision-making.
E - new parents can sometimes agonise over decisions like who should take on the
primary caregiver role.
Mothers may feel pressured to stay home because of the stereotypical role of
mothers.
Similarly, fathers may be pressured to focus on work rather than parenting –
although this may not be the economically best solution.
E - This highlights how research into the role of the father can be used to offer
reassuring advice for parents.
Such findings enhance the social utility of psychological research by reassuring
families that non-traditional caregiving arrangements do not disadvantage children's
development, and by promoting more flexible, inclusive models of parenting.
For example, heterosexual parents can be informed that fathers are quite capable of
become primary attachment figures. Additionally, lesbian-parent and single-mother
