Cultural Variations in Attachment

Question 1

Imposed Etic

Answer 1

Attempting to apply a theory or technique designed for one culture to another.

Question 2

Ethnocentrism

Answer 2

When the norms of one culture are seen as superior to other cultures because they are the majority.

Question 3

How did Ainsworth’s research demonstrate ethnocentrism?

Answer 3

Ainsworth concluded that ‘secure’ is the most ideal type of attachment for infants. This implied that Western parenting styles are superior to others.

Question 4

Meta-Analysis

Answer 4

A research technique that involves analyzing multiple studies, all focused on the same area of research, and drawing one, overall conclusion.

Question 5

Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) - Aim

Answer 5

To review studies of attachment conducted in different countries and consider what cross-cultural differences there were, and particularly to consider the consistency of secure attachment.

Question 6

Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) - Procedure

Answer 6

Conducted a meta-analysis of studies that focused on mother-infant interaction that used the Strange Situation procedure.

Question 7

Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) - Findings

Answer 7

Across eight countries, about 65% of infants were secure, 21% insecure-avoidant, 14% insecure-resistant.

Question 8

Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) - Conclusion

Answer 8

Parenting styles and values differ between cultures.

Question 9

What have studies found about aboriginal infants?

Answer 9

Aboriginal infants are nine times more likely to be placed into care, and make up 25% of the Australian care system. Shows how ethnocentrism can have negative effects.

Question 10

Sagi (2001) - Summary

Answer 10

Suggested that in Israel, children are reared communally in a Kibbutz, meaning they’re less reliant on one attachment figure.

Question 11

Rothbaum (2000) - Summary

Answer 11

Explains that USA are socially and emotionally competent that can regulate their own emotions and are typically secure, whereas Japanese inhibit their emotions and are group-focused rather than self-orientated.

Question 12

Grossman (1991) - Summary

Answer 12

Explains how Germans raise children to maintain interpersonal distance, encourage independence and wean children off physical contact from an early age. This is why German infants tend to be insecure-avoidant.

Question 13

Takahashi (1990) - Aim

Answer 13

To determine if different cultures have different parenting/attachment styles.

Question 14

Takahashi (1990) - Procedure

Answer 14

Replicated the Strange Situation with 60 middle-class Japanese infants and mothers.

Question 15

Takahashi (1990) - Findings

Answer 15

0% were insecure-avoidant, 32% insecure-resistant, 68% secure. 90% of the episodes where infants were alone had to be stopped due to excessive infant anxiety.

Question 16

Jin et al. (2012) - Aim

Answer 16

To compare the proportions of attachment types in Korea to other studies.

Question 17

Jin et al. (2012) - Procedure

Answer 17

Replicated the Strange Situation with 87 Korean infants.

Question 18

Jin et al. (2012) - Findings

Answer 18

1% were insecure-avoidant, 21% insecure-resistant, 78% secure.

Question 19

Simonella et al. (2004) - Aim

Answer 19

To investigate whether attachment types in Italian infants reflect those identified in earlier studies.

Question 20

Simonella et al. (2004) - Procedure

Answer 20

76 infants aged 12 months were assessed using the Strange Situation to determine their attachment type. Comparisons were made with existing studies.

Question 21

Simonella et al. (2004) - Findings

Answer 21

50% were secure, 36% insecure-avoidant, 14% insecure-resistant.

Question 22

Simonella et al. (2004) - Conclusion

Answer 22

An increase in mothers who go back to work and utilize childcare is potentially a reason for a lower percentage of securely attached infants. Cultural differences can have a significant influence on the patterns of secure and insecure attachment types.

Question 23

Strengths of Cultural Variations

Answer 23

• Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s meta-analysis only included studies with mothers, and the Strange Situatuon procedure, giving reliable findings.
• Very large sample assessed by Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (nearly 2000 infants and mothers), increasing internal validity and reducing anomalous results.
• Good generalisability as findings show that secure attachment is universal, supporting the view that attachment is innate and biological.

Question 24

Limitations of Cultural Variations

Answer 24

• Findings cannot be generalised to father-infant variations.
• Unrepresentative sample of different cultures, studied different cultures, not countries.
• Sagi (2001) found attachment types in Tokyo were similar to Western studies, while rural Japan was more resistant - evidence for sub-cultures.
• Methods to measure attachment may not be applicable to other cultures, as they were designed for one.