attachment: cultural variations of Ainsworth's strange situation

Question 1

What does culture refer to?

Answer 1

Culture refers to the norms and values that exist within any group of people.

Question 2

What are culture variations?

Answer 2

Culture variations are the differences in norms and values that exist between people in different groups.

Question 3

What is the focus of attachment research?

Answer 3

In attachment research, we are concerned with the differences in the proportion of children of different attachment types.

Question 4

What was the aim of Van Ljzendoorn’s study?

Answer 4

To look at the proportion of attachment types in other cultures; between and within.

Question 5

What method did Van Ljzendoorn use for his research?

Answer 5

In a meta analysis, 32 studies were compared, from 8 separate countries, with over 1,990 infants.

Question 6

What were the findings regarding attachment types between countries?

Answer 6

Wide variation of attachment types between countries; secure being the most common in all countries, insecure resistant being the least common.

Question 7

What country had the highest percentage of secure attachment?

Answer 7

Secure was the most common in Britain at 75%.

Question 8

Which country had the highest percentage of insecure-avoidant attachment?

Answer 8

Germany had the most insecure-avoidant at around 35%.

Question 9

Which country had the highest percentage of insecure-resistant attachment?

Answer 9

Israel had the most insecure-resistant at 29%.

Question 10

What did Van Ljzendoorn find about variations within countries?

Answer 10

There was more variation between results of studies within the same country than those between countries.

Question 11

What can we conclude about secure attachment?

Answer 11

Secure attachment is the most common, but greater variations found within countries show the influence of cultural practices.

Question 12

which country was the most frequent in the meta analysis?

Answer 12

USA with 18 studies

Question 13

which country was the least frequent in the meta analysis?

Answer 13

UK, China and Sweden with 1 study each

Question 14

true or false: there were 9 contries included in the meta analysis

Answer 14

FALSE > there were 8

Question 15

true or false: the meta analysis included over 2,500 infants

Answer 15

FALSE > included over 1,990 infants

Question 16

What was the aim of the Simonella et al’s study?

Answer 16

To determine if the proportions of attachment types in Italy still match those found in previous studies

Question 17

What procedure was used in the Simonella et al’s study?

Answer 17

The researchers assessed 76 12-month-old infants using the strange situation

Question 18

What percentage of infants were found to be securely attached in Simonella et al’s study?

Answer 18

50%
this is a lower rate of secure attachment than in previous studies

Question 19

What percentage of infants were found to be insecure avoidant in Simonella et al’s study?

Answer 19

36%
This is a higher rate of insecure avoidant attachment than previously reported.

Question 20

What conclusion can be drawn about the change in attachment types in Italy?

Answer 20

Patterns of attachment types are not static but vary in line with cultural change
This suggests that societal factors can influence attachment styles.

Question 21

What potential reason was suggested for the change in attachment types observed in Simonella et al’s study?

Answer 21

Increasing amounts of mothers of young children working longer hours and using professional childcare

Question 22

True or False: The findings of Simonella et al’s study indicate that attachment patterns are static.

Answer 22

False > The findings suggest that attachment patterns can change over time.

Question 23

what do the results of the cultural variations suggest?

Answer 23

Such studies suggest that secure attachment is the norm in a wide range of cultures, supporting Bowlby’s idea that attachment is innate and universal.

However research also shows that cultural practises have an influence on attachment type

Question 24

AO3: biased

Answer 24

The strange situation is biased
The Strange Situation was designed by American researcher, Mary Ainsworth based on a British theory (Bowlby’s).
This is an issues as this technique should not be applied to other cultures. > this is an imposed etic approach
A lack of separation anxiety and lack of pleasure on reunion indicate an insecure attachment in the Strange Situation but in Germany, this behaviour might be seen as normal and a sign of independence rather than insecurity.
Therefore that part of the strange situation may
not be relevant to Germany.

WEAKNESS as this means that the behaviours measured by strange situation may not have the same meaning in different cultural contexts and comparing them across cultures is meaningless.

Question 25

AO3: confounding variables

Answer 25

the confounding variables may impact findings **Studies conducted in different countries are not usually matched for methodology** when they are compared in a meta analysis This means characteristics such as poverty, social class and urban/rural make up, age of participants can confound results. Additionally **environment variables (eg: room size or toys) might also differ between studies.** Babies might appear to explore more in studies with small rooms with attractive toys compared to large empty rooms. Less visible proximity seeking because of room size might make a child more likely to be classified as avoidant. WEAKNESS as this means that **looking at attachment behaviour in different non-matching studies conducted in different countries may not tell us anything about cross-cultural patterns of attachment**

Question 26

AO3: indigenous researchers

Answer 26

One strength of research into cultural variations is that most of the studies were conducted by indigenous psychologists Indigenous psychologists are those from the same cultural background as the participants. Van lJzendoorn included research by a German team. This is a strength as **it means many of the potential problems in cross-cultural research can be avoided.** For example researchers misunderstandings of the language used by participants or having difficulty communicating instructions to them This means there is an excellent chance that researchers and participants communicated successfully, One strength of research into cultural variations is that most of the studies were conducted by indigenous psychologists E: Indigenous psychologists are those from the same cultural background as the participants. Van lJzendoorn included research by a German team. E: This is a strength as it means many of the potential problems in cross-cultural research can be avoided. Give an example For example researchers misunderstandings of the language used by participants or having difficulty communicating instructions to them L: This means there is an excellent chance that researchers and participants communicated successfully, increasing the validity of the resultsOne strength of research into cultural variations is that most of the studies were conducted by indigenous psychologists E: Indigenous psychologists are those from the same cultural background as the participants. Van lJzendoorn included research by a German team. E: This is a strength as it means many of the potential problems in cross-cultural research can be avoided. Give an example For example researchers misunderstandings of the language used by participants or having difficulty communicating instructions to them L: This means there is an excellent chance that researchers and participants communicated successfully, increasing the validity of the resultsOne strength of research into cultural variations is that most of the studies were conducted by indigenous psychologists E: Indigenous psychologists are those from the same cultural background as the participants. Van lJzendoorn included research by a German team. E: This is a strength as it means many of the potential problems in cross-cultural research can be avoided. Give an example For example researchers misunderstandings of the language used by participants or having difficulty communicating instructions to them L: This means there is an excellent chance that researchers and participants communicated successfully, **increasing the validity of the results**