Cultural Variations in attachment

Question 1

Who studied cultural variations in attachment?

Answer 1

Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg

Question 2

Describe what Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg did

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

What does culture refer to?

Answer 3

the norms and values that exist within any group of people.

Question 4

What does cultural variations mean?

Answer 4

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 5

Describe Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s procedure

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

What were the findings?

Answer 6

There was a wide variation between the proportions of attachment types in different studies. In all countries secure attachment was the most common classification.

Question 7

What was the most common attachment type?

Answer 7

Secure

Question 8

How did the proportion of secure attachment vary?

Answer 8

The proportion varied from 75% in Britain to 50% in China.

Question 9

What was the least common attachment type?

Answer 9

Insecure resistant

Question 10

How did insecure-resistant attachment type vary?

Answer 10

From 3% in Britain to around 30% in Israel

Question 11

Where were insecure-avoidant types most observed?

Answer 11

in Germany

Question 12

Where were insecure-avoidant types least observed?

Answer 12

Japan

Question 13

What is an interesting finding?

Answer 13

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%.

Question 14

What other studies of cultural variations are there?

Answer 14

Italian and Korean

Question 15

Who did an Italian study of cultural variations?

Answer 15

Alessandra Simonelli (2014)

Question 16

What was Alessandra Simonelli’s aim?

Answer 16

conducted a study in Italy to see whether the proportions of babies of different attachment types still matches those found in previous studies.

Question 17

Describe Simonelli’s procedure

Answer 17

The researchers assessed 76 babies aged 12 months using the Strange Situation.

Question 18

What did they find?

Answer 18

50% were secure, with 36% insecure avoidant.

Question 19

What reason do researchers give to explain the lower rate or secure attachment and higher rate of insecure-avoidant attachment?

Answer 19

Because increasing numbers of mothers of very young children work long hours and use professional childcare.

Question 20

What do these findings of attachment types suggest?

Answer 20

Patterns of attachment types are not static but vary in line with cultural change.

Question 21

Who conducted a Korean study on cultural variations?

Answer 21

Mi Kyoung Jin et al (2012)

Question 22

What was Mi Kyoung Jin et al’s aim?

Answer 22

To compare the proportions of attachment types in Korea to other studies. The strange situation was used to assess 87 babies.

Question 23

What was the most common attachment type in the Korean study?

Answer 23

Secure

Question 24

How is the Korean study different to other studies?

Answer 24

More babies were insecure resistant and only one baby was insecure avoidant.

Question 25

How can the similarity between the distribution types in Korea and Japan be explained?

Answer 25

Since Japan and Korea have quite similar child-rearing styles this similarity might be explained in terms of child-rearing style.

Question 26

Conclude what you have learnt from the cultural variations in attachment

Answer 26

• 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.