Cultural variations

Question 1

What is cultural variations :

Answer 1

The differences in norms and values that exist between in different groups.

Question 2

Why is attachment research concerned with cultural variations ?

Answer 2

We are concerned with the difference in the proportion of children odfdifferent attachment types.

Question 3

Researchers who did key study ?

Answer 3

Van ijzendoorn and Pieter Kroonberg.

Question 4

Key study : Ijzendoorn ?

Answer 4

Conducted a study to look at the proportions of secure,insecure avoidant and insecure resistant attachments across a range if countries. They looked at differences within the same countries to get an idea of variations within a culture.

Question 5

Procedure of key study ?

Answer 5

-Researchers located 32 studies of attachment where strange situation had been used.
-These 32 studies were conducted in 8 countries ; 15 in US
-1990 children.
-Data for 32 studies was meta analysed, (combined and weighed for sample size)

Question 6

Findings of research :

Answer 6

Wide variation between proportions of attachment types in different studies.

Question 7

In depth findings :

Answer 7

-All countries = Secure attachment was the most common classification.
- Proportion varied from 75% in Britain and 50% in china.

-Insecure resistant was the least common type but proportions varied from 3% in Britain and 30% in israel.

-Insecure avoidantwas most common in Germany and least common in Japan.

Question 8

What were the findings found in the same country compared to between countries?

Answer 8

Variations between studies within the sane country were 150% greater than those between countries.
In the US , EG. 46% SECURELY ATTACHED COMPARED TO ONE SAMPLE AS HIGH AS 90%

Question 9

What other studies show CULTURAL VARIATIONS ?

Answer 9

Italian study

Korean study

Question 10

Procedure of italian study ?

Answer 10

Simonella et al . study conducted in italy to see whether proportions of babies of different attachment types still matches those in previous studies.
- Assessed 76 12 month old using the strange situation.

Question 11

Findings of italian study ?

Answer 11

50% secure
36% insecure avoidant
-This is a lower rate of secure attachment than found in many studies
This is because increasing numbers of mothers of very young children work long hours and used professional childcare. -> Suggest cultural changes make a dramatic difference to patterns of secure and insecure attachment.

Question 12

Procedure of Korean study :

Answer 12

Jin et al. conducted a study to compare proportions of attachment types in Korea to other studies.
SS -> 87 children.

Question 13

Findings of korean study ?

Answer 13

Proportions of insecure and secure babies were similar to those in most countries, with most infants being secure.
-However, more of those classified as insecurely resistant and one was avoidant
- Distribution is similar to the distribution found in JapanW

Question 14

Why do Japan and Korea have similar results ?

Answer 14

They have quite similar child rearing styles.

Question 15

Conclusions of cultural variations :

Answer 15

-Secure attachment seems to be norm in wide range of cultures, supporting bowlbys idea that attachment is innate and universal = universal norm
-Research shows that cultural practices have an influence on attachment type.