Cross Cultural Research into Attachment Types Flashcards
What did Sagi (Israel) study?
Children living in a collective community where child rearing is shared and children are often raised by a metapelet (non biological community member) caregivers often rotated
What did Sagi find?
Children who experienced family sleeping arrangements showed normal attachment types compared to those who slept communally
What did Grossman et al (1985) find?
A greater number of anxious avoidants as there is a cultural value placed on independence and early weaning
What did Miyake (1985) find?
A higher number of anxious resistant types in Japan than USA but no anxious avoidants. This is due to the fact that mothers encourage dependency
What did Jin Mi Kyoung (2005) find?
A greater number of securly attached which shows attachment types are found in similar proportions across cultures and countries
A strength of the cross cultural research?
The same procedure was used in different cultures, so in theory conclusions can be compared with one another. This gives reliability.
How is it difficult to measure cultures equally and make comparisons?
Cultures have many differences, including family structure, parenting style, what it expected, and how children are seen in society. So many factors make it difficult to draw cause and effect conclusions.
Was there consistency in the patterns observed?
Yes, the three types were identified in each study
What were the general findings?
The main attachment type is securly attahed and when a different attachment type is found it is due to cultural preferences around acceptable behaviour rather than bad mothering
Why might the differences found be down to the participant variables rather than down to the attachment a child has with their mother?
By using a procedure developed in the USA in different cultures, the task itself might produce differences in findings e.g Japanese are less used to strangers so are going to be more fearful
What can we assume from the research?
attachment exists across cultures and is determined by maternal sensitivity, it supports that attachment is an innate process
Why might the procedure not be useful in other cultures?
It reflects the values and beliefs concerning childrearing practices of the USA and is not sensitive to other cultural values
