Relationships between young children and their carers: psychological perspectives.
Describe and explain psychological research about young children’s sensitivity to the facial
expressions and moods of those caring for them. What are the implications of these findings
for the care of children up to approximately two years of age and for their longer-term
wellbeing?
This report will explain psychological research about young children’s sensitivity to the facial
expressions and moods of those caring for them, as well as the implications of these findings
for the care of children up to approximately two years of age, and for their longer-term
wellbeing.
The report will cover a wide range of knowledge and evidence-based advice to support both
parents and carers, in showing the importance of early interactions with any given child and
what this could mean for their developmental milestones throughout their childhood.
First, let’s look at a study, the heart research that Zero to Three conducted on early
reciprocal social relationships. Interestingly, only around 34 percent of parents thought a
young child was aware of a parent/carer givers mood and able to relate to these throughout
their own emotions.
Research has shown that an infant will show and respond to a range of emotions, in
response to the reactions they are receiving from another, and this is due to their sensitivity
and ability to relate to these from a very young age. It is important to note, most of us,
experience the baby as a needy object of care, but, in true fact, a baby is watching carefully
to the facial expressions of others and evaluating how to respond just as we do with one
another. It is thought that an infant should be looked upon, as another person because
that’s exactly what they are (activity 2, week 8).
, In regard to the study findings, it should be highlighted that, first relationships, especially
with the caregiver, are paramount for adequate development to occur and for infants to
learn about the social world around them.
Infants are born with rather limited capabilities but will actively engage in developing these
early relationships and have an innate set of capabilities to do so (Farrington-Flint, 2019).
They are born with a readiness to relate to others and are able to recognise and respond to
familiar faces and familiar voices and engage in early social interactions.
Lack of early social interactions pose a delay in development of social and emotional skills
later in childhood.
Researchers have found early social deprivation can have a major effect on a child’s
cognitive and physical development as well as their social relationships later on in life
(Gerhardt, 2006).
In addition to the heart research that Zero to Three conducted, further findings were
concluded within an experiment “the still face experiment” (activity 1, week 8). Within this
experiment, they wanted to understand more about how infants will respond to different
situations with the caregiver.
A mother was asked to interact with her child for a few minutes using exaggerated language
and facial expressions as well as a lot of repetition, this is often referred to as the
‘motherese’ technique , (Bornstein,2013, page 75) and research found using this technique,
to be important in helping young infants in developing their language and fitting words
together.
Throughout the experiment the child’s interactions showed positive engagement with the
mother whilst using the ‘motherese’ technique, the baby’s interactions included pointing,
baby talk, smiling and repetition of the mother’s interactions.
In contrast, the study wanted to address the infant’s response in addition to a caregiver’s
mood of showing no engagement. By asking the mother to completely ignore the child and
