Cultural Variations In Attachment Flashcards
what is the aim?
To investigate cross cultural variations in attachment
what is the sample?
32 studies of Strange Situation
8 countries
2000 children
what procedure?
meta analysis
what were the findings?
most common A type in all 8 countries was secure A
highest SA in britain
lowest SA in china
what was one of the most significant findings
there was 150% times greater variation of A styles within cultures than between cultures.
e.g USA one study found that 46% of sample was securely attached compared to another study in USA that found that 90% were securely attached
what was the conclusion?
there are cultural variations in a as insecure avoidant and resistant types were different
although there must be similarities due to SA being most common in al cultures
give a strenth of his research
P - van-ijendoorns meta analysis of cultural variations of A could be argues to have high pop v
E - as it was a meta-analysis of 32 strange siyuation studies using a large sample of 2000 infants
E - easier to G F to rest of target pop
L - increasing ext v of research into investigating cultural variations in attachment types
how can it be criticised?
P - imposed etic
E - based on american child - rearing practices and ignores practices i other cultures ( that aren’t american)
eg lack of separation anxiety indicates IA A type
germany this may be seen as a positive light as independence rather than avoidance or insecurity
L - therefore ss may not be appropriate to measure A types across all cultures when ivestigating cv in A
give a final criticism
P - lacks ecological validity
E - 32 ss carried out in contrllled setting w two way mirror
E may not be appr to G F to real life A types as infant may not behave as they usually do in natural environment shy in an ufmiliar environment
L - lowering ext v of r into cv in a types
