Attachments caregiver - infant

Attachments caregiver - infant

1. Attachment - emotional tie or bond between 2 people the infant/caregiver

2. Reciprocity - when a infant responds to the actions of another person in form/turn taking

   • Brezelton (1975) describes interaction as a dance between caregiver and infant. Reciprocity caregiver interaction is where the interaction between both flows back and forth
   • From 3 months old Feldman (2007) reciprocity increases in frequency the infant and caregiver pay attention the each others verbal and facial communication
     • Showing the sensitive responsiveness caregiver pays attention towards infants behaviour
       • Lays good foundations that can develop over time

3. Interactional synchrony - takes place when infants mirror the actions/emotions of another person i.e facial expressions

   • Mirroring can be referred to imitation or copying adult behaviour
     • The child will move there body to carry out the same acts as the caregiver said to be in sync
   • Meltzoff and Moore (1977) key study aims to examine interactional synchrony in infants
     • Method - uses a controlled observation adult model displayed 1/3 facial depressions or a gesture. A dummy was placed in infant mouth to prevent facial communication.
       • Following the display from the adult dummy was a removed and child expressions were filmed
         • Results - clear association between infants behaviour and that of adult model later research by meltzoff and more (1983) same findings in 3 day old infants
           • Conclusion - findings sugges interactional synchrony is innate and reduces the strength of any claim that imitative behaviour is learned

4. Stages of attachment

   • Asocial - from birth to 2 months - an infant shows similar responds to objects and people. Towards the end of this stage they do display preference face/eyes
     • Indiscriminate attachments - form 2 to 6 months - infant shows a preference for human company over non-human company. They can distinguish between different people, comforted indiscriminately not showing stranger anxiety yet
       • Discriminate (specific) attachments - seven to 12 months - infant shows a preference for 1 caregiver, displaying separation and stranger anxiety. Infant looks to particular person for security nd protection. Infant shows joy upon reunion and are comforted by their caregiver
         • Multiple attachments - 1 year onwards - attachment behaviours now displayed towards several different people- sometimes referred to secondary attachments . Typically form in 1st month after primary attachment is formed and the number of multiple attachments develop depends on social circle to whom the infant is exposed