ATTACHMENT – ATTACHMENT & CAREGIVER-INFANT INTERACTIONS IN HUMANS
WHAT IS ATTACHMENT: RECIPROCITY: Supporting evidence – Tronick – E.g. - takes place when a mother and
developed ‘still face’ experiment, infant interact in such a way that their
A close two-way emotional bond Attachment develop by a reciprocal actions and emotions mirror the other.
mother faces her baby and is asked to
between two individuals, in which each process which is two-way, where an
sees the other as essential for their emotional connection develops hold a still face in which she doesn’t Supporting evidence – Meltzoff and
own emotional security. between and infant and caregiver. react to the baby’s behaviours. In Moore – observed IS in infants as
Influences the child’s physical, general, the baby will become agitated young as two weeks old. Adult
Proximity: infants try to stay physically neurological, cognitive and by failed attempts to evoke a reaction. displayed 1 of 3 expressions or 1 of 3
close to those which they are attached. psychological development. Becomes Therefore, demonstrates importance gestures. Respond was filmed and
Separation distress: infants are basis or basic trust or mistrust. of reciprocity for the child’s wellbeing. identified by independent observers.
distressed when an attachment figure Association found between expression
E.g. – caregiver reacts and responds to INTERACTIONAL SYNCHRONY: displayed by carer and baby. It is
leaves their presence the signals given out by the baby,
Theory is social communication where believed that interactional synchrony is
Secure-base behaviour: even when providing comfort and empathy. important for the development of
Smiling back when the baby smiles. behaviours become synchronised. Two
infants are independent of their mother-infant attachment.
Picking them up when they cry. people are said to be synchronised
attachment figures they tend to make
Negative reciprocal processes will still when they carry out the same action
regular contact with them; regularly
contribute but not as advantageous. simultaneously.
return whilst playing and exploring.
OBSERVING INFANTS: CONTROLLED OBSERVATIONS: DOESN’T TELL US THE REASONS FOR IT SOCIALLY SENSITIVE RESEARCH
Criticise observations Observations of mother-infant A researcher pointed out that Research into mother-infant
interactions are generally well- interactional synchrony (and by interaction is socially sensitive because
What is being observed is merely hand controlled procedures; both mother
movement or changes in expression. implication reciprocity) simply describe it suggests that children maybe
and infant being filmed, often from behaviours that occur at the same disadvantaged by particular child-
Difficult to be certain of what is taking multiple angles, ensuring very fine
place from the infants perspective. time. rearing practices.
details can be recorded and analysed.
Is, for example, the infant’s imitation of These are reliably observed In particular, mothers who return to
Furthermore, babies don’t know or
adults signals conscious and behaviours, but this may not be useful work shortly after a child is born
care they’re being observed so their
deliberate? behaviour doesn’t change in response as it doesn’t explain to us the purpose. restricts the opportunities for achieving
to a controlled observation, generally a interactional synchrony compared to a
This means we cannot really know for
certain that behaviours seen in problem for this kind of research. This mother who stays at home for a longer
mother-infant interaction have a gives the research good validity. period of time.
special meaning. Controlled nature makes replication
However, many studies have found the possible.
same patterns of interaction. May not reflect real-life
,
,
WHAT IS ATTACHMENT: RECIPROCITY: Supporting evidence – Tronick – E.g. - takes place when a mother and
developed ‘still face’ experiment, infant interact in such a way that their
A close two-way emotional bond Attachment develop by a reciprocal actions and emotions mirror the other.
mother faces her baby and is asked to
between two individuals, in which each process which is two-way, where an
sees the other as essential for their emotional connection develops hold a still face in which she doesn’t Supporting evidence – Meltzoff and
own emotional security. between and infant and caregiver. react to the baby’s behaviours. In Moore – observed IS in infants as
Influences the child’s physical, general, the baby will become agitated young as two weeks old. Adult
Proximity: infants try to stay physically neurological, cognitive and by failed attempts to evoke a reaction. displayed 1 of 3 expressions or 1 of 3
close to those which they are attached. psychological development. Becomes Therefore, demonstrates importance gestures. Respond was filmed and
Separation distress: infants are basis or basic trust or mistrust. of reciprocity for the child’s wellbeing. identified by independent observers.
distressed when an attachment figure Association found between expression
E.g. – caregiver reacts and responds to INTERACTIONAL SYNCHRONY: displayed by carer and baby. It is
leaves their presence the signals given out by the baby,
Theory is social communication where believed that interactional synchrony is
Secure-base behaviour: even when providing comfort and empathy. important for the development of
Smiling back when the baby smiles. behaviours become synchronised. Two
infants are independent of their mother-infant attachment.
Picking them up when they cry. people are said to be synchronised
attachment figures they tend to make
Negative reciprocal processes will still when they carry out the same action
regular contact with them; regularly
contribute but not as advantageous. simultaneously.
return whilst playing and exploring.
OBSERVING INFANTS: CONTROLLED OBSERVATIONS: DOESN’T TELL US THE REASONS FOR IT SOCIALLY SENSITIVE RESEARCH
Criticise observations Observations of mother-infant A researcher pointed out that Research into mother-infant
interactions are generally well- interactional synchrony (and by interaction is socially sensitive because
What is being observed is merely hand controlled procedures; both mother
movement or changes in expression. implication reciprocity) simply describe it suggests that children maybe
and infant being filmed, often from behaviours that occur at the same disadvantaged by particular child-
Difficult to be certain of what is taking multiple angles, ensuring very fine
place from the infants perspective. time. rearing practices.
details can be recorded and analysed.
Is, for example, the infant’s imitation of These are reliably observed In particular, mothers who return to
Furthermore, babies don’t know or
adults signals conscious and behaviours, but this may not be useful work shortly after a child is born
care they’re being observed so their
deliberate? behaviour doesn’t change in response as it doesn’t explain to us the purpose. restricts the opportunities for achieving
to a controlled observation, generally a interactional synchrony compared to a
This means we cannot really know for
certain that behaviours seen in problem for this kind of research. This mother who stays at home for a longer
mother-infant interaction have a gives the research good validity. period of time.
special meaning. Controlled nature makes replication
However, many studies have found the possible.
same patterns of interaction. May not reflect real-life
,
,
