Mother-twin interaction in early infancy
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the interaction process of mothers and twin infants. From a dynamic systems framework, the mother and both infants contribute to and are influenced by the interaction behaviors of the other participants. Research design was a longitudinal case study of within family developmental changes for two families with twins. The subjects were videotaped weekly in a laboratory playroom setting during the first year. Behaviors observed during the interaction pattern group of solitary activity included each infant alone in activity and the mother either acting alone in or attending to one infant. Attending by mother was defined as looking at one infant but not interacting with that infant. During dyadic interaction, the mother engaged in activity with one infant while the other infant engaged in solitary activity. Dyadic interaction also included interaction between the infants while the mother engaged in solitary activity or attended to one infant. Mixed dyadic interaction involved the three members in two simultaneous dyads, each dyad with different activities. Triadic interaction involved attention and activity of all three members on the same activity. The most frequent interaction patterns were in the mixed dyad and the dyad groups. Interaction patterns were found to cycle within groups of related interaction patterns. Dyadic interaction between the infants began and the structure of triadic interaction changed after both twins achieved independent sitting capabilities. Triadic interaction appears to be influenced by the setting and the development of the infants. Several directions for further analysis are indicated by the results of this study. Investigation into the sequencing of interaction patterns, the component behaviors leading to changes in interaction patterns and the membership composition of the interaction patterns should prove to be useful for understanding the development of communication in mother-twin infant triads.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Melson, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Developmental psychology
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