Cultural variations

Question 1

What are cultural variations?

Answer 1

• The differences in norms and values that exist between people in different groups.
• In attachment research we are concerned with the differences in the proportion of children of different attachment types.

Question 2

Van Izjendoorn & Kroonenberg’s meta-analysis

Answer 2

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

Question 3

VI & K (procedures)

Answer 3

• The researchers located 32 studies of attachment where the SS had been used to investigate the proportion of infants with different attachment types.
• These 32 studies were conducted in 8 countries.
• The data for the 32 studies was meta analysed.

Question 4

VI & K (findings)

Answer 4

• In all countries secure attachment type was the most common (75% in Britain, 50% in China).
• Insecure-resistant was overall the least common type, although the proportions ranged from 3% in Britain to 30% in Israel.
• Insecure- avoidant attachment types were most common in Germany and least common in Japan.
• An interesting finding was that variations between results of studies within the same country was 150% greater than those between countries.
• In the USA for example, one study found only 46% securely attached compared to one sample as high as 90%.

Question 5

Simonella et al

Answer 5

• Conducted a study in Italy to see whether the proportions of babies of different attachment types still matches those found in previous studies.
• The researchers assessed 76-12 month olds using the SS.
• They found 50% secure.
• 36% Insecure avoidant.
• This is a lower rate of secure attachment that has been found in many studies.
• The researchers suggest this is because increasing numbers of mothers of very young children work long hours and use professional childcare.
• These findings suggest that cultural changes can have a significant impact to patterns of secure and insecure attachment types.

Question 6

Evaluation of cultural variations

Answer 6

1. Large sample sizes= mean that results are generalisable and more representative of the wider population.
2. Samples tend to be unrepresentative of culture- in fact the comparisons were between countries and not cultures.
   - Comparisons between countries may have little meaning; the particular cultural characteristics of the sample need to be specified.