Research: Caregiver Interactions

Research: Caregiver Interactions

1. Meltzoff and Moore (1977

   • 42 minutes - 2 weeks old
     • Adults displayed one of three facial expressions and a hand gesture and the child’s response was filmed and identified by independent observers who had no knowledge of what the children had just seen
       • Each observer scored the tapes twice so that inter-observer reliability could be calculated. All scores were greater than .92.
         • the existence of reciprocity from a very young age

2. Belsky (1984)

   • Observed mother-infants interactions when the infant was 1,3 and 9 months old and then at 12 months assessed how attached they were to their mothers using the strange situation
     • Low levels of reciprocal interaction with mothers tended to be insecurely attached (insecure resistant).
       • Intermediate levels of reciprocal interaction were securely attached
         • Highest levels of reciprocal interaction were surprisingly insecurely attached
           • So it’s not as simple as saying that lots of reciprocity will lead to good relationships and attachment