Cultural Variations into Attachment

Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) Proc

Meta-analysis of strange situation around the world

Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) Findings

• most common - secure

• highest secure - britain

• lowest secure - china

• highest IA - west germany

• lowest IA - japan

• highest IR - israel

• lowest IR - britain

Simonella et al. (2014) Proc

assessed 76 12-month olds using Strange Situation

Simonella et al. (2014) findings

• 50% secure

• 36% IA

suggested it was because increasing numbers of mothers were working long hours

Takahashi (1990) Findings

• infants became severely distressed when alone, quite unnatural and broke cultural norms - 90% had to be stopped

• 32% IR

• 68% Secure

Cultural Findings

• collectivist = more IR

• individualistic = more IA

☹ Greater variation

Intra-culture more variation than inter-culture

☹ weakness

evidence of imposed etic

☹ Sample issue

sample issue with meta-analysis and countries considered - only 3 collectivist cultures included - bias