caregiver infant interactions ao3/evaluation points

controlled observations capture fine details

• strength of research is the methodology used

• observations of the interactions were well controlled procedures, with both infant and caregiver being filmed

• this allows for fine details to be recorded and analysed

• also, babies don’t know they’re being recorded, meaning behaviour doesn’t change

• suggesting that research into caregiver infant interactions has good internal validity

problems with testing infant behaviour

• it’s difficult to reliably test infant behaviour, due to them being in constant motion and the expressions that are tested occurring frequently

• this makes it difficult to distinguish between general activity and specific imitated behaviour

• to solve this, independent observers were used to judge the behaviour

• this increased internal validity because judges had no idea what behaviour was being imitated

• this is a strength as the researchers removed the problem of general observer bias

practical application

• role of interactional synchrony in formation of attachment could have practical application, benefiting society

• crotwell et all (2013) found that 10 min parent-child interaction therapy improved interactional synchrony in 20 LIC mothers compared to a control group

• mothers also used more child directed techniques and their children were coded as offering toys to their mothers more frequently

• suggesting that research into interactional synchrony could lead to valuable methods for improving and developing mother infant attachments

cultural differences

• interactional synchrony isn’t found in all cultures, contradicting the idea that baby’s idea to imitate caregiver is innate AND that it aids formation of attachment

• if it was innate, it’d be universal

• Le Vine (1994) found Kenyan mothers promptly respond to their infants distress signals, but ignore other vocalisations

• however, they do have a high proportion of secure attachments

• these observations were taken as a sign that interactional synchrony/sensitivity is a Western construct, cannot be applied to rural non-Western communities

• this study highlights how sensitive caring doesn’t require verbal or face to face interaction

• this weakens support for idea that caregiver infant interactions are necessary for healthy attachment formation