Cultural Variations in Attachment Flashcards
Imposed Etic
Attempting to apply a theory or technique designed for one culture to another.
Ethnocentrism
When the norms of one culture are seen as superior to other cultures because they are the majority.
How did Ainsworth’s research demonstrate ethnocentrism?
Ainsworth concluded that ‘secure’ is the most ideal type of attachment for infants. This implied that Western parenting styles are superior to others.
Meta-Analysis
A research technique that involves analyzing multiple studies, all focused on the same area of research, and drawing one, overall conclusion.
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) - Aim
To review studies of attachment conducted in different countries and consider what cross-cultural differences there were, and particularly to consider the consistency of secure attachment.
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) - Procedure
Conducted a meta-analysis of studies that focused on mother-infant interaction that used the Strange Situation procedure.
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) - Findings
Across eight countries, about 65% of infants were secure, 21% insecure-avoidant, 14% insecure-resistant.
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) - Conclusion
Parenting styles and values differ between cultures.
What have studies found about aboriginal infants?
Aboriginal infants are nine times more likely to be placed into care, and make up 25% of the Australian care system. Shows how ethnocentrism can have negative effects.
Sagi (2001) - Summary
Suggested that in Israel, children are reared communally in a Kibbutz, meaning they’re less reliant on one attachment figure.
Rothbaum (2000) - Summary
Explains that USA are socially and emotionally competent that can regulate their own emotions and are typically secure, whereas Japanese inhibit their emotions and are group-focused rather than self-orientated.
Grossman (1991) - Summary
Explains how Germans raise children to maintain interpersonal distance, encourage independence and wean children off physical contact from an early age. This is why German infants tend to be insecure-avoidant.
Takahashi (1990) - Aim
To determine if different cultures have different parenting/attachment styles.
Takahashi (1990) - Procedure
Replicated the Strange Situation with 60 middle-class Japanese infants and mothers.
Takahashi (1990) - Findings
0% were insecure-avoidant, 32% insecure-resistant, 68% secure. 90% of the episodes where infants were alone had to be stopped due to excessive infant anxiety.
Jin et al. (2012) - Aim
To compare the proportions of attachment types in Korea to other studies.
Jin et al. (2012) - Procedure
Replicated the Strange Situation with 87 Korean infants.
Jin et al. (2012) - Findings
1% were insecure-avoidant, 21% insecure-resistant, 78% secure.
Simonella et al. (2004) - Aim
To investigate whether attachment types in Italian infants reflect those identified in earlier studies.
Simonella et al. (2004) - Procedure
76 infants aged 12 months were assessed using the Strange Situation to determine their attachment type. Comparisons were made with existing studies.
Simonella et al. (2004) - Findings
50% were secure, 36% insecure-avoidant, 14% insecure-resistant.
Simonella et al. (2004) - Conclusion
An increase in mothers who go back to work and utilize childcare is potentially a reason for a lower percentage of securely attached infants. Cultural differences can have a significant influence on the patterns of secure and insecure attachment types.
Strengths of Cultural Variations
- Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s meta-analysis only included studies with mothers, and the Strange Situatuon procedure, giving reliable findings.
- Very large sample assessed by Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (nearly 2000 infants and mothers), increasing internal validity and reducing anomalous results.
- Good generalisability as findings show that secure attachment is universal, supporting the view that attachment is innate and biological.
Limitations of Cultural Variations
- Findings cannot be generalised to father-infant variations.
- Unrepresentative sample of different cultures, studied different cultures, not countries.
- Sagi (2001) found attachment types in Tokyo were similar to Western studies, while rural Japan was more resistant - evidence for sub-cultures.
- Methods to measure attachment may not be applicable to other cultures, as they were designed for one.