Cultural variations in attachment

Question 1

Outline Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s (1988) Cultural variations in attachment meta-analysis and it’s findings.

Answer 1

Compared rates of attachment across 8 countries.
Findings:
1. More variation within a culture than between cultures
2. Secure attachment was the most common attachment in all countries
3. Germany had higher rates of insecure-avoidant attachment (35%) due promoting independence
4. Israel and Japan had higher rates of insecure resistant attachment -. Israel some families live in a Kibbutz and in Japan being apart from mother is rare.
Conclusions: Cultural practices affect rates of attachment type and this is also influenced by the media e.g super-nanny.

Question 2

Evaluate.

Answer 2

+ Research support indigenous researchers: the researchers where from the same cultural background which reduced bias and misinterpretation/miscommunication.
- Counterpoint: Imposed etic: different behaviours have different meanings in different cultures e.g. low affection at reunion is viewed as insecure avoidant but in Germany is seen as a positive aspect of independence. Therefore, comparing behaviours displayed in the Strange Situation from different cultures and with indigenous researchers is meaningless.

+Controlled setting
-Counterpoint: however extraneous variables: differences observed could be due to environment e.g. room layout, toys provided etc or social class.

+ Research support: Italian research shows secure attachment dropped to 50% - due to mothers working and increased day-care.
- Counterpoint: Gender bias