Cultural Variations in attachment Flashcards
Who studied cultural variations in attachment?
Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg
Describe what Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg did
They conducted a study to look at the proportions of secure, insecure-avoidant and insecure-resistant attachments across a range of countries to assess cultural variation. They also looked at the differences within the same countries to get an idea of variations within a culture.
What does culture refer to?
the norms and values that exist within any group of people.
What does cultural variations mean?
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.
Describe Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s procedure
They conducted a meta-analysis of 32 studies of attachment from eight different countries where the strange situation had been used to investigate the proportions of babies with different attachment types. 15 were in the USA.
In total, the results of over 1,990 infants were included in the analysis.
What were the findings?
There was a wide variation between the proportions of attachment types in different studies. In all countries secure attachment was the most common classification.
What was the most common attachment type?
Secure
How did the proportion of secure attachment vary?
The proportion varied from 75% in Britain to 50% in China.
What was the least common attachment type?
Insecure resistant
How did insecure-resistant attachment type vary?
From 3% in Britain to around 30% in Israel
Where were insecure-avoidant types most observed?
in Germany
Where were insecure-avoidant types least observed?
Japan
What is an interesting finding?
Variations between results of studies within the same country were 150% greater than those between countries. In the USA, one study found only 46% securely attached compared to one sample as high as 90%.
What other studies of cultural variations are there?
Italian and Korean
Who did an Italian study of cultural variations?
Alessandra Simonelli (2014)
What was Alessandra Simonelli’s aim?
conducted a study in Italy to see whether the proportions of babies of different attachment types still matches those found in previous studies.
Describe Simonelli’s procedure
The researchers assessed 76 babies aged 12 months using the Strange Situation.
What did they find?
50% were secure, with 36% insecure avoidant.
What reason do researchers give to explain the lower rate or secure attachment and higher rate of insecure-avoidant attachment?
Because increasing numbers of mothers of very young children work long hours and use professional childcare.
What do these findings of attachment types suggest?
Patterns of attachment types are not static but vary in line with cultural change.
Who conducted a Korean study on cultural variations?
Mi Kyoung Jin et al (2012)
What was Mi Kyoung Jin et al’s aim?
To compare the proportions of attachment types in Korea to other studies. The strange situation was used to assess 87 babies.
What was the most common attachment type in the Korean study?
Secure
How is the Korean study different to other studies?
More babies were insecure resistant and only one baby was insecure avoidant.
How can the similarity between the distribution types in Korea and Japan be explained?
Since Japan and Korea have quite similar child-rearing styles this similarity might be explained in terms of child-rearing style.
Conclude what you have learnt from the cultural variations in attachment
- Secure attachment is the norm in wide range of cultures, supporting Bowlby’s idea that attachment is innate and universal and this type is the universal form.
- However, the research also clearly shows that cultural practices have an influence on attachment type.
