Caregiver-infant interactions in humans

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Define: Attachment
An enduring, two-way, emotional bond to a specific other person.
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What are four behaviours displayed when an attachment exists?
Joy on reunion, Stranger anxiety, Seperation distress, Seeking proximity.
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What are three interactions that can strengthen an attachment between a caregiver and infant?
Interactional Synchrony, Reciprocity, Bodily Contact
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Define: Interactional Synchrony
The co-ordinated rhythmic exchanges between carer and infant. This includes the mirroring of behaviour, emotion, and movement.
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Give an example of interactional synchrony
Caregiver sticks out tongue -> Infant sticks out tongue
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Define: Reciprocity
Interactions between caregiver and infant that result in eliciting responses from each other - creating similar behaviour patterns between the two parties.
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Give an example of reciprocity
Crying infant -> Caregiver picks up infant
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Give an example of research that shows evidence of interactional synchrony.
Melzoff and Moore (1977)
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Give an example of research into why bodily contact is important in the formation of attachments.
Klaus & Kennell (1976)
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Who identified the stages of attachment development?
Schaffer and Emerson
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What are the features of the Pre-Attachment Phase (birth - 3 months)?
From six weeks, infants become attracted to other humans instead of objects and events. This is shown in their smiling at others faces.
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What are the features of the Indiscriminate Attachment Phase (3 - 7/8 months)?
Infants begin to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar people, smiling at people more known. They will still allow strangers to hold and look after them.
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What are the features of the Discriminate Attachment Phase (7/8 months onwards)?
Infants begin to develop specific attachments - they prefer to be close to particular people and become distressed when separated. They avoid unfamiliar people and protest at interactions with strangers.
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What are the features of the Multiple Attachments Phase (9 months onwards)?
Formation of strong emotional bonds with other major caregivers, e.g. grandparents, and non-caregivers e.g. other children. Fear of strangers weakens but the strongest bond remains with the mother figure.
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Give an example of who may be included in an infants multiple attachments.
Grandparents, Siblings, Childminders
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True or False: Children with multiple attachments are at an advantage.
True - they are more able to form and conduct social relationships.
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What do many researchers believe is the role of the father?
To be a playmate for the infant.
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Why are fathers often seen more as a playmate rather than a caregiver?
As their play is more unpredictable, exciting, and physical than the mothers.
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What four factors affect the relationship between the father and child?
Degree of sensitivity, Type of attachment to own parents, Marital Intimacy, Supportive co-parenting
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Define: Degree of sensitivity
The ability to show sensitivity and attention to a child's' needs.
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Define: Marital Intimacy
The degree of intimacy the father has within his relationship with his partner.
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Define: Supportive co-parenting
The amount of supportive the father shows to his partner in helping to care for children.
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What does Geiger's 1996 research show?
That fathers play interactions are more exciting and pleasureable than the mothers, while mothers are more nurturing and affectionate. This supports the idea of fathers being playmates rather than caregivers.
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What does Golombok's 2004 research show?
Children who grow up in single or same-sex parent families do not develop any differently to children from two-parent heterosexual families. This suggests that the fathers role as a secondary attachment figure is not important.
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What does Hrdy's 1999 research show?
That fathers are less able to detect low level infant distress than mothers. This implies that males are less suitable as primary attachment figures.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What are four behaviours displayed when an attachment exists?

Back

Joy on reunion, Stranger anxiety, Seperation distress, Seeking proximity.

Card 3

Front

What are three interactions that can strengthen an attachment between a caregiver and infant?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Define: Interactional Synchrony

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Give an example of interactional synchrony

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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