Meltzoff and Moore, 1977

Flowchart nodes

• Aim: To investigate the age at which interactional synchrony occurs between mother and child. 

• Meltzoff and Moore (1977) videotaped 12-21 day-old babies as they watched an adult experimenter perform different facial expressions or one of three distinctive gestures.

• The childs' response was filmed and identified by independent observers. Observed at the beginnings of interactional synchrony in babies as young as two weeks old.

• An association was found between the expression of gesture the adult had displayed and the action of the baby.

• Meltzoff and Moore, 1977