The characteristics of an early primary caregiver-infant attachment

Attachment

Attachment is defined according to 4 behaviours:

1. Interactional synchrony -when the infant and mother perform the same actions simultanously

2. Reciprocity-the infant and caregiver respond to each other's actions and can elicit a response

3. Seperation Anxiety-the infant begins to cry and panic when their primary caregiver leaves them

4.Secure-base behaviour-whilst playing or exploring, the infant will regularly return and treat the mother as a safe space.

Reciprocity

The child and its caregiver spend much time in play from as soon as they are born. The infant enters 'alert phases' when it indicates it is ready for play, an average mother will recognise and respond to this 2/3rds of the time. After 3 months these 'alert phases' become more frequent and the play is more focused on facial and verbal expressions…