8) Cultural Variations of Attachment

Name two researchers that investigated cultural variations of attachment?

• Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg

• Simonelli

Outline the meta-analysis by Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg?

AIM:
To investigate cross-cultural variations in attachment.

METHOD:
They conducted a meta-analysis of 8 different countries using 32 studies of Ainsworth’s strange situation.

• Over 1,990 infants included in the study.

RESULTS:
Securely attached children were the most common overall (50%-75%).

Insecure avoidant children were second.

Insecure resistant children were last.

• Insecure avoidant was highest in Germany as an individualist culture.

• Insecure resistant was highest in Japan and Israel as centralist cultures.

• Variations within cultures was 50% greater than between cultures.

Outline Simonelli et al’s study into cultural variations of attachment?

In 2014, they assessed 76 x 12 month year olds using the strange situation.

• 50% were secure.

• 36% were avoidant.

• 24% were resistant.

This was a lower secure attachment percentage than previous studies in earlier years.

• This was suggested to be due to increasing numbers of mothers working long hours and using professional childcare.

It reflects the changing of cultures over time.

Outline general conclusions made about cultural variations in attachment?

Secure attachment is the norm across many cultures.

• Supports Bowlby’s idea that attachment is innate and universal.

• Supports idea that secure attachment is the optimal attachment type for healthy development.

Cultural changes can make dramatic differences in the patterns of attachment.

Evaluate the strengths of research into cultural variations of attachment?

STRENGTH: LARGE SAMPLES

Almost 2,000 infants were involved in the study .

• This increases the internal validity by reducing the impact of anomalous results caused by bad methodology or unusual participants.

Thus, we can more efficiently establish cause and effect.

STRENGTH: INDIGENOUS RESEARCHERS

It often used indigenous researchers to conduct the study.

• This reduces bias and miscommunication between participants.

• Furthermore, language barriers will not be an issue.

TAKAHASHI:
Studied Japanese attachment.

GROSSMAN:

Studied German attachment.

Thus, many of the issues that come from misinterpreting cultures are reduced.

Therefore, increasing internal validity.

Evaluate the limitations of research into cultural variations of attachment?

LIMITATION: CONFOUNDING VARIABLES

There are possible confounding variables such as poverty, social class, size of room, and toys available.

• When not standardised, the studies are difficult to compare.

• It is hard to properly compare cross cultural patterns of attachment therefore.

Thus, there is reduced internal validity.

LIMITATION: IMPOSED ETIC

Behaviours in the strange situation have different meanings in different cultures.

• Tools for investigation are designed in one culture and used in another without considering the effect on culture norms.

In Germany, a lack of separation anxiety is seen as independent and secure while it is also seen as insecure by Americans.

So, infants could be incorrectly categorised.

Thus, it undermines the point of the study!

Etic îs imposed.