Caregiver-infant interactions

Meltzoff and Moore (1977)

aim: To examine interactional synchrony in infants.

method: using a controlled observation, an adult model displayed 3 different facial expressions to infant who had dummy in mouth. Dummy was removed from infants mouth and their expression was filmed.

findings: there was a clear association between the infants behaviour and that of the adult model.

conclusion: interactional synchrony is innate

Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

aim: To examine the formation of early attachments.

method: 60 babies from working class families in Glasgow aged 5-23 weeks were visited in their homes once every month for 12 months then again at 18 months. The babies were observed in…