SECTION: Caregiver – Infant Interactions
TOPIC: Attachment
SIX SENTENCE SUMMARY OF KEY IDEAS (K/U) KEY WORD GLOSSARY
1. Attachment is the two-way emotional bond between two Attachment
people (caregiver and infant.) Good quality social interactions Proximity
help develop attachment.
Separation Distress
Secure Base behaviour
2. Reciprocity is when the caregiver and infant
reciprocate/respond to the others signals – it develops
conversations and ‘turn – taking.’ Reciprocity
Alert Phases
3. When a baby is in an alert phase that signal, they are ready Interactional Synchrony
for interaction (eye contact.) The response of the mother to
these phases can affect the type of attachment.
4. Interactional synchrony is how the pairs behaviour becomes
synchronised/coordinated which plays a role in development
and future empathy.
RELEVENT EVIDENCE: Meltzoff and Moore 1977
Observed babies as young as two years old, an adult showed 1/3 facial expressions or gestures and independent
observers found the babies mirrored the actions more times than chance would predict.
In a separate ‘still face experiment’ after being paid attention to the baby’s alert signals were ignored and they showed
extreme distress showing how infants are sensitive to interactions.
PEEL STRENGTH PEEL WEAKNESS
The studies were able to be observed in a controlled It is difficult to interpret a baby’s behaviour, the lack of
laboratory, the babies acted normally as they were not co-ordination means it is difficult to know the reason for
aware of the study and there were fewer distractions. certain expressions, many could just be random
They were also recorded meaning can be analysed later, movements. (Smiling or just passing wind.) Cannot be
key behaviours are not missed. certain that their behaviours relate to the caregiver’s
Babies didn’t know they were being observed (covert) actions.
meaning responses are natural
Good reliability and internal validity.
PEEL STRENGTH PEEL WEAKNESS
Research has lead to practical parent skill training, There is no way to understand how these interactions
through parent-child therapy interactional synchrony effect future development, simply observing behaviours
improves, better for families struggling. alone cannot prove importance in development, they
simply ‘names’ patterns in the caregiver and infants’
But this is socially sensitive putting pressure on behaviours. Cannot understand full importance.
caregivers to stay with the child – “if they return to work
the child will have a slower development”. However other research by Isabella et al found that early
achievement of synchrony predicts good attachment –
leading to better development.
TOPIC: Attachment
SIX SENTENCE SUMMARY OF KEY IDEAS (K/U) KEY WORD GLOSSARY
1. Attachment is the two-way emotional bond between two Attachment
people (caregiver and infant.) Good quality social interactions Proximity
help develop attachment.
Separation Distress
Secure Base behaviour
2. Reciprocity is when the caregiver and infant
reciprocate/respond to the others signals – it develops
conversations and ‘turn – taking.’ Reciprocity
Alert Phases
3. When a baby is in an alert phase that signal, they are ready Interactional Synchrony
for interaction (eye contact.) The response of the mother to
these phases can affect the type of attachment.
4. Interactional synchrony is how the pairs behaviour becomes
synchronised/coordinated which plays a role in development
and future empathy.
RELEVENT EVIDENCE: Meltzoff and Moore 1977
Observed babies as young as two years old, an adult showed 1/3 facial expressions or gestures and independent
observers found the babies mirrored the actions more times than chance would predict.
In a separate ‘still face experiment’ after being paid attention to the baby’s alert signals were ignored and they showed
extreme distress showing how infants are sensitive to interactions.
PEEL STRENGTH PEEL WEAKNESS
The studies were able to be observed in a controlled It is difficult to interpret a baby’s behaviour, the lack of
laboratory, the babies acted normally as they were not co-ordination means it is difficult to know the reason for
aware of the study and there were fewer distractions. certain expressions, many could just be random
They were also recorded meaning can be analysed later, movements. (Smiling or just passing wind.) Cannot be
key behaviours are not missed. certain that their behaviours relate to the caregiver’s
Babies didn’t know they were being observed (covert) actions.
meaning responses are natural
Good reliability and internal validity.
PEEL STRENGTH PEEL WEAKNESS
Research has lead to practical parent skill training, There is no way to understand how these interactions
through parent-child therapy interactional synchrony effect future development, simply observing behaviours
improves, better for families struggling. alone cannot prove importance in development, they
simply ‘names’ patterns in the caregiver and infants’
But this is socially sensitive putting pressure on behaviours. Cannot understand full importance.
caregivers to stay with the child – “if they return to work
the child will have a slower development”. However other research by Isabella et al found that early
achievement of synchrony predicts good attachment –
leading to better development.
