Cultural Variations

Question 1

Main researchers for cultural variations

Answer 1

Van ljzendoorn and kroonnenburg

Question 2

Aim of their study

Answer 2

Investigate cultural variation in attachment types through meta analysis of studies which used the strange situation procedure in various cultures

Question 3

Procedure

Answer 3

A meta analysis was conducted which compared finings in 32 studies that had used the strange situation to measure attachment and to classify the attachment relationship between mother and infant

Question 4

How many countries did the 32 studies come from

Answer 4

8

Question 5

Findings

Answer 5

• secure attachment most common type
• significant differences found between the distributions of insure attachments for certain cultures
• intra cultural differences greater than inter cultural differences

Question 6

Conclusion

Answer 6

• Some contain some with Ainsworth’s findings suggest universal characteristics between infants and caregiver
• significant variations suggest a difference in pattern across the 3 attachment types
• overall the strange situation procedure has different meanings in different cultures so we need to know about child rearing practises to interpret findings

Question 7

Weaknesses to the study

Answer 7

• strange situation based on American and British cultures cannot be generalised
• based on assumptions = lack Validity
• over simplified - 1 country 1 culture

Question 8

Strengths

Answer 8

Large sample - increases validity