New Evidence for the Social Embeddedness of Infants' Early Triangular Capacities

Abstract

Infants appear to be active participants in complex interactional sequences with their parents far earlier than previously theorized. In this report, we document the capacity of 3-month-old infants to share attention with two partners (mothers and fathers) simultaneously, and trace links between this capacity and early family group-level dynamics. During comprehensive evaluations of the family’s emergent coparenting alliance completed in 113 homes, we charted infants’ eye gaze patterns during two different mother-father-infant assessment paradigms. Triangular capacities (operationalized as the frequency of rapid multishift gaze transitions between parents during interactions) were stable across interaction context. Infants exhibiting more advanced triangular capacities belonged to families showing evidence of better coparental adjustment. Theoretical and practice implications of these findings are discussed.

The Family Alliance Assessment Scales: Steps Toward Validity and Reliability of an Observational Assessment Tool for Early Family Interactions

“…Now, studies have shown how an infant's temperament and behavior can also exert an impact on its caregivers (Crouter and Booth 2003;Lewis and Rosenblum 1974), an impact which is more and more strategic and goal-oriented as the child grows (Cole 2003). Moreover, the infant is able to distribute its attention between its two parents as early as 3 or 4 months old, showing an early aptitude to manage a multi-person context (Fivaz-Depeursinge et al 2005;McHale et al 2008).…”

What is the impact of autism on mother–child interactions within families with a child with autism spectrum disorder?

“…A third possible interpretation is that mothers did not differentiate their behaviour because they were dealing with only one child at the time during the observation. It is very likely that interactions taking place in the context of a dyad differ from triadic interactions (Corter et al, 1983;McHale, 2008). Furthermore, we cannot rule out the effect of observation on mother's social behaviour.…”

Nine‐month‐olds' triangular interactive strategies with their parents' couple in low‐coordination families: A descriptive study

“…The authors showed that 6-to 10-month-olds used double addresses (viz., different expressive modalities) to interact with two infant partners at a time: touching one while looking at another or vocalizing or smiling for the benefit of both. In other words, as noted by McHale et al (2008), triangular competence does not solely owe to the parents' in-the-moment scaffolding but also emanates from infants' own initiatives in the absence of adult solicitations.…”

“…In HC interactions, infants as young as 3 months already share their attention with their parents. They distribute their gaze between them more or less equally and make rapid, back-and forth gaze transitions between them (Lavanchy, 2002;McHale et al, 2008). In addition, they appear to share their affects with their parents, addressing triangular bids to them with affect signals in rapid succession (Fivaz-Depeursinge et al, 2005).…”

“…Furthermore, the development of triangular interaction is linked to the quality of relationships. It may be restricted as early as the first trimester should parents fail to coordinate with each other in relation to their child in various ways such as by competing with each other or withdrawing (Lavanchy, 2002;McHale, Fivaz-Depeursinge, Dickstein, Robertson, & Daley, 2008). Then, the young infants' trianDirect correspondence to: E. Fivaz-Depeursinge, Institut Universitaire de Psychothérapie, Av.…”