Caregiver-Infant Interactions

Attachment

A close emotional bond between two individuals, where one sees the other as essential for their own emotional security.

Reciprocity

Mutual responsiveness between an infant and caregiver takes turns in communicating and responding to each other’s signals.

Interactional Synchrony

Temporal coordination of micro-level social behaviour.

Reciprocity and Interactional Synchrony

Characteristics of a successful caregiver-infant interaction

Imitation

The infant directly copies the caregiver’s expression

Sensitive Responsiveness

The adult caregiver correctly interprets the meaning of the infant’s communication and is motivated to respond appropriately.

Child-directed Speech

The adult caregiver talks in a ‘sing-song’ tone, modulating their voice by slowing it down and raising the pitch; keeping the infant’s attention.

Body Contact

Physical contact, especially skin-to-skin contact, is necessary for bonding, especially in the first few hours of life.

Tronick’s Still Face Experiment

A study demonstrating the effects of maternal unresponsiveness on infant behaviour and emotional regulation. The experiment involves a mother maintaining a still face while interacting with her baby, revealing the importance of responsive caregiving.

Meltzoff & Moore

Study that found infants as young as 2-3 weeks old imitated facial and hand gestures, suggesting they are not passive but actively try to communicate with their caregivers.

4 Stages

How many stages of attachment are there?

Asocial

First stage of Attatchment (0-6 Weeks)

Indiscriminate attachment

Second stage of attachment (1-7 Months)

Specific attachment

Third stage of attachment (7-9 Months)

Multiple Attachment

Fourth Stage of attachment (10+ Months)

Reciprocity Evidence

Brazelton et al

Brazelton et al

Interact as a ‘dance’

When does Reciprocity start

Around 3 Months

Tronick’s Still Face Experiment

• Parent = unresponsive with a ‘still face’

• Infant quickly shows distress & confusion and attempts to repair the interaction

• When the ‘normal’ interaction resumes, infant quickly recovers

What did ‘Tronick’s Still Face Experiment’ show?

The importance of responsiveness and reciprocity for a child’s sense of safety and development