Cultural Variations in Attachment

What are cultural variations in attachment?

Differences in attachment types between and within cultures.

What does culture refer to?

The norms and values that exist within a group of people.

What is attachment research concerned with in cultural variations?

Differences in attachment types between children of different cultures.

What is an individualist culture?

A culture that prioritises independence and autonomy.

Give an example of an individualist culture.

UK or USA.

What is a collectivist culture?

A culture that prioritises the group, family, and community.

Give an example of a collectivist culture.

China or India.

Who carried out the cross-cultural attachment meta-analysis?

Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988).

What type of study did Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg conduct?

A meta-analysis.

What is a meta-analysis?

An analysis of the results of pre-existing studies.

How many studies were included in the meta-analysis?

32 studies.

What method did the studies use to measure attachment?

The Strange Situation.

How many countries were included?

8 countries.

Which regions were included in the meta-analysis?

Western and Eastern cultures.

What was the most common attachment type across cultures?

Secure attachment.

Where was secure attachment most common?

The UK.

Where was secure attachment least common?

China.

Which country had the highest percentage of insecure-avoidant attachment?

Germany.

Why may Germany have high insecure-avoidant attachment?

It is an individualist culture that values independence.

Which country had the highest percentage of insecure-resistant attachment?

Israel.

Why may Israel have high insecure-resistant attachment?

Children are raised by multiple caregivers in a collectivist culture.

What important conclusion was found about cultural differences?

Differences within cultures were greater than differences between cultures.

Why is this finding important?

“Differences within cultures were greater than differences between cultures.”

It suggests individual differences matter more than culture.

What overall conclusion can be drawn from the study?

Attachment is universal, but cultural practices influence attachment behaviour.

Name 2 strengths

• Strengths from Ainsworths SS

scientific credibility, highly replicable

• Large samples

ignore anomalies, increase validity

Name 3 Limitations

• Limitations from Ainsworths SS

artificial environment, ethnocentric, mothers = high demand characteristics, ethical issues

• Unrepresentative sample

In China only 1 sample was conducted with 36 infants