Cultural Variations In Attachment

Question 1

Who investigated cultural variations and what was their aim, sample and method?

Answer 1

The s.s exp by ainsworth allows psychologists to look into how att types may vary amongst diff cultures and why. Van Ijzendoorn investigated cross cultural variations in attachment using over 30 studies of the s.s from 8 countries using around 2000 children. He used a meta analysis/controlled obsv of the s.s.

Question 2

What were the findings into cultural variations of attachment?

Answer 2

• It was found that the secure att type was the most common in all 8 countries.
• The lowest percentage of secure attachment was found in China whereas the highest number of secure attachment type was found in Britain.
• Differences were found in insecure attachment types as insecure avoidant was the most dominant attachment type in Western cultures whereas insecure resistant was most dominant in non - western cultures.
• One of the most significant findings was that there was one and a half times greater variation within cultures than between cultures.
• e.g. in the USA one study found nearly 50% of the sample were securely attached whereas in another study in the USA. they found 90% of the sample were securely attached.

Question 3

What did V.I conclude?

Answer 3

• Results show there are cultural variations in att as insecure types were diff
• However there must be similarities due to secure att being most common in all countries

Question 4

What are the three AO3 points to evaluate Cultural variations in attachment?

Answer 4

Strength - high pop val
Weakness - culture bias
Weakness - lacks eco val