Question 1: Define 'attachment' in the context of developmental psychology.

Answer: Attachment is an emotional bond that develops between an infant and their caregiver, which provides the infant with a sense of security and influences their social and emotional development.

Question 2: Describe two key behaviors that a caregiver might exhibit to promote attachment with an infant.

Answer: Two key behaviors are responding promptly and consistently to the infant's needs, and engaging in affectionate and comforting interactions such as cuddling or talking softly.

Question 3: Explain the importance of physical closeness, such as holding or cuddling, in caregiver-infant interactions.

Answer: Physical closeness helps to establish a sense of security for the infant, promotes emotional bonding, and stimulates sensory development, which are all crucial for attachment formation.

Question 4: Identify and briefly describe one research study related to caregiver-infant interactions and attachment formation.

Answer: The 'Strange Situation' study by Mary Ainsworth observed how infants respond to separations and reunions with their caregiver, revealing different attachment styles based on their reactions.

Question 5: List three factors that might influence the way a caregiver interacts with an infant.

Answer: The caregiver's own attachment history, their emotional well-being, and cultural norms regarding child-rearing are factors that can influence interactions.

Question 6: Draw a simple diagram showing a typical caregiver-infant interaction scenario. Label the key elements such as 'caregiver', 'infant', and 'interaction behavior'.

Answer: A sketch showing a caregiver and an infant facing each other, with arrows indicating behaviors like 'smiling', 'talking', or 'holding'. Labels should identify each participant and the type of interaction.

Question 7: Describe how sensitive responsiveness from a caregiver can affect the quality of attachment.

Answer: Sensitive responsiveness involves noticing and appropriately responding to an infant's signals, which fosters trust and security, leading to a secure attachment.

Question 8: Explain the concept of 'reciprocal interaction' in caregiver-infant relationships.

Answer: Reciprocal interaction refers to a back-and-forth exchange where both the caregiver and infant respond to each other’s cues, promoting mutual engagement and bonding.

Question 9: Sketch a sequence of two or three behaviors that demonstrate positive caregiver-infant interaction during playtime.

Answer: A sketch showing the caregiver smiling and offering a toy to the infant, the infant reaching out or grasping the toy, and both sharing eye contact or smiling.

Question 10: Discuss one limitation of research methods used to study caregiver-infant interactions.

Answer: One limitation is that observations in laboratory settings may lack ecological validity, as caregiver and infant behaviors might differ from natural environments due to awareness of being observed.