Cultural Variations in attachment

Question 1

why is there a cultural difference in attachment

Answer 1

• sub - cultural differences
• other cultures differences in rearing their children

Question 2

what are the potential sub cultural differences

Answer 2

• class = urban (media) vs rural
• geography
• religion
• ethnicity

Question 3

Van Ijendoorn + Kroonenberg (1988)

Answer 3

• meta - analysis
• 32 studies (SSC)
• 8 countries

Question 4

what kind of study is I / K 1988

Answer 4

meta - analysis of 32 studies

Question 5

how many countries were considered in the I / K meta analysis

Answer 5

8 countries

Question 6

what were the avg attachment types

Answer 6

secure most common
avoidant second
resistant third

Question 7

Issues with Kroonenberg’s study

Answer 7

1.5x greater intra cultural variance
Takahashi (1990)
Grossman and Grossman (1991)

Question 8

Takahashi (1990) procedure / findings

Answer 8

60 1 year olds
68% secure 32% resistant

Question 9

Takahashi (1990) issues

Answer 9

procedure had to be halted - immense distress - if not 80% secure
babies spend 2 years 100% with mothers
taught avoidance is rude
SS not suitable in Japan

Question 10

Grossman and Grossman (1991)

Answer 10

Germany
interpersonal distance
no proximity seeking
appear avoidant

Question 11

Grossman and Grossman (1991) German mothers

Answer 11

German mothers observed
responsive - sensitive
valued independence and self reliance

Question 12

Sagi (1991) 4 countries SSC procedure

Answer 12

4 countries
7 SSC studies

Question 13

Sagi (1991) findings

Answer 13

only US infants similar to Ainsworth’s study 71% secure
Israeli Kibbutz = 62%
Takahashi
Grossman

Question 14

Israeli Kibbutz difference

Answer 14

children separate from primary attachment yet they have no contact with strangers

Question 15

Critique and Eval of meta - analysis (good)

Answer 15

Van Ijendoorn and Kroonenberg used a mix of collectivist and Individualist cultures in the analysis

SSC is replicable (all controlled variables)

Question 16

Critique and Eval of meta-analysis - (bad)

Answer 16

classed observable differences as minor mistakes

some samples were small - not generalisable - heavily weighted US - bias

Question 17

Ethnocentrism in cross cultural variance

Answer 17

claiming 1 attachment type is best is ethnocentrism

Question 18

imposed etic in cross cultural variance

Answer 18

SSC is based on Western cultural norms and practices
meaningless assessment for other cultures

Question 19

issues with the etic

Answer 19

meaningless assessments for divergent cultures as its not tailored to the norms of other cultures

Question 20

what is the main cultural conflict

Answer 20

collectivist and individualist

Question 21

how could SSC improve

Answer 21

instead of imposed Western etic - tailored individual indigenous analytical tools should be implemented for accuracy

Question 22

what does SSC assume

Answer 22

Universalism in attachment

Question 23

is the analysis fluid

Answer 23

no it is rigid, following what the Western analysis suggests - widest variance = intra

Question 24

external validity

Answer 24

subverted - confounding variables may render conclusions meaningless or inaccurate

Question 25

what are the issues with EV

Answer 25

conclusions are meant to be applicable yet they raise more Qs

Question 26

methodological issues with SSC MA

Answer 26

original interrater reliability = 0.94 changes or variance in operationalisation = confounding variables that reduce this reliability - lacks consistency

Question 27

Ethical issues with the MA

Answer 27

children not used to conditions - stressed

Question 28

Summary of EVAL of MA

Answer 28

findings suggest universality limited samples not rep of sub cultures ethnocentrism imposed etic ethics

Question 29

studies that suggest attachment suffers from cultural bias

Answer 29

Rothbaum (2000) Kroonenberg and Sagi (2001)

Question 30

Rothbaum (2000)

Answer 30

Euro centricity imposed etic independence not promoted in all cultures rooted in US culture C hyp = secure is seen as more social competence / emotional competence = in Japan emotional inhibition

Question 31

Kroonenberg and Sagi (2001)

Answer 31

rural areas = more resistant than urban who are influenced by media not all experiences are homogenous - class geography and race - SS based on homogenous assumptions

Question 32

Study that suggests attachment is universal

Answer 32

Posada and Jacobs (2001)

Question 33

Posada and Jacobs (2001)

Answer 33

sensitivity promotes security in our environment - secure most common as its the most adaptive

Question 34

study suggesting its a mix of universal and individual

Answer 34

maternal sensitivity may vary yet core concepts of attachment are universal such as the secure base etc.