Cultural Variations AO3 Flashcards
(4 cards)
✅What evidence supports the idea that some attachment principles are universal?
Posada and Jacobs (2011) found that the concept of maternal sensitivity leading to secure attachment is consistent across diverse cultures, including China, Colombia, and Germany. Despite differences in how sensitivity is expressed or how securely attached children behave, the fundamental link between caregiver sensitivity and attachment security is universally recognized, suggesting a core principle in attachment theory.
✅ How did van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg improve the validity of their cross-cultural research?
They used indigenous researchers who were familiar with the cultural norms and language of the participants (e.g., Japanese and German researchers for their respective countries). This minimized miscommunication and misinterpretation, ensuring that the findings more accurately reflected the participants’ true attachment behaviors.
❌ How can methodological differences affect the findings of cross-cultural attachment studies?
Studies comparing attachment across cultures may use different settings, such as room size or the availability of toys, which can influence children’s exploratory behaviors. For instance, infants may appear more explorative in small, toy-filled rooms than in large, bare spaces, leading to inconsistent attachment classifications. This undermines the validity of cross-cultural comparisons
❌ What is a criticism of the idea that cultural similarities in attachment are biologically determined?
van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg suggested that similarities in attachment across cultures might be due to global media influence rather than innate biological factors. Media, such as TV shows and books, spread similar ideas about parenting worldwide, making attachment behaviors appear universal when they may actually be learned. For example, parents worldwide may adopt similar child-rearing practices they see in popular media.
