Caregiver-infant interactions

Many studies into mother-infant interactions have shown the same patterns of behaviour (Gratier 2003). However, what is being ovserved is merely hand movements or changes in expression.

It is difficult to be sure, based on these observativions, what is taking place from the infant's perspective. For example, is the infant's imitation of adult signals conscious and deliberate?

This means we cannot be certain that behaviours seen in mother-infant interactions have a special meaning.

Mother-infant interactions are usually filmed, often from multiple angles. Very fine details of behaviour can be recorded and analysed later.

Also babies don't know they are being observed, so their behaviour does not change in response to observation (generally the main problem for obervation research).

This is a strength of this line of research because it means the studies have good validity.

Feldman points out that synchrony (and by implication reciprocity) simply describe behaviours that occur at the same time.

These are robust phenomena in the sense that they can be reliably observed, but this may not be particularly useful as it does not tell use thier purpose.

However, there is some evidence that reciprocity and synchrony are helpful in the development of mother-infant attachment, empathy, language and moral development.

This is because it suggests that children may be disadvantaged by particular child-rearing pracitces.

Specifically, mothers who return to work shortly after a child is born restrict the opportunities for achieving interactional synchrony.

This suggests that mothers should not return to work so soon - this has obvious socially snesitive implications.

The identification of interactional synchrony as an important foundation in the formation of high-quality attachments could have pracitical applications that benefit society.

Crotwell et al. found that a 10-minture Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) improved interactional synchrony in 20 low-income mothers and their pre-school infants compared to a control group.

The findings suggest that research on interactional synchrony could lead to valuable methods for improving and devloping mother-infant attachments (particularly in at-risk groups).