Cultural variations in attachment

Cultural variations

The differences in norms and values that exist between people in different cultures.

van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg 1988 study

Procedure

Meta-analysis of 32 Strange Situation studies. Wanted to find out whether inter-cultural and intra-cultural differences existed. All 32 studies had at least 35 mother-infant pairs.

The results of all the SS studies were combined and analysed together

van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg 1988 study

Findings

There was wide variation in the different studies. Secure attachment was the most prominent.

More insecure in collectivist cultures (Israel, Japan) than in individualist (GB, Holland, Sweden).

Variations between results of studies within the same country were 150% greater than those between countries. In the US one study found only 46% securely attached compared to one sample as high as 90%

West Germany results

57% Secure

35% IA

8% IR

Israel results

64% Secure

7% IA

29% IR

Japan results

68% Secure

5% IA

27% IR

China results

50% Secure

25% IA

25% IR

USA results

65% Secure

21% IA

14% IR

Great Britain results

75% Secure

22% IA

3% IR

Holland results

70% Secure

26% IA

4% IR

Sweden results

74% Secure

24% IA

2% IR

Italian cultural variation study

Simonelli 2014

Wanted to see whether attachment types matched those found in older studies. Assessed 76 mothers and their babies aged 12 months using the SS.

50% secure 36% insecure avoidant. Lower secure and insecure avoidant attachment compared to older studies.

May be due to an increasing number of children in households where both parents work long hours and use professional childcare.

These findings suggest that patterns of attachment types vary in line with cultural change.

Korean cultural variation study

Jin Mikyoung 2012

Compared the proportions of attachment types in Korea to other studies. The SS was used to assess 87 male babies. Insecure and Secure proportions were similar to most countries. Majority secure.

Most of the insecurely attached babies were IR and 1 was IA. Similar distribution to Japan.

This similarity in distribution can be due to similar child-rearing styles.

Conclusions of cultural variations

More insecure attachment in collectivist cultures than in individualist cultures

S Grossman + Grossman

Studies done by local researchers

Researchers know what to look out for based on their experience

Found German infants are insecurely attached more often as they don’t have proximity-seeking behaviours when put in the SS due to different rearing practices in Germany.

Suggests that attachment type is dependent on culture. Biased to assume that one attachment type is dominant in all cultures

S Thompson.

Enhanced our understanding of attachment behaviour.

Emic research (interpreting local perspective) more useful than etic approach (looking for universal behaviours)

Cross-cultural research found examples of differences in attachment understanding. Lack of affection on reunion may indicate an avoidant attachment or independence.

Cross-cultural research may enrich our understanding by using alternate interpretations

S Meta-analysis

Results are based on conclusions drawn from wider samples. This means larger sample sizes are used so the population validity increases

W Meta-analysis

Research methods may vary. May not be appropriate to compare them so the validity decreases.