Cultural variations in attachment

Question 1

What are cultural variations?

Answer 1

Differences in norms and values existing between people in different groups

Question 2

What did Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg research?

Answer 2

Studied proportions of secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-resistant attachments across a range of countries

Question 3

What was Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s procedure?

Answer 3

• Looked at 32 studies of attachment, where Strange Situation was used
• Studies conducted in 8 countries (15= US)
• Yielded results for 1,990 children
• Use of meta-analysis

Question 4

What did Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg find in their research on cultural variations?

Answer 4

• Wide variation between proportions of attachment types
• Secure was most common worldwide (75%= Britain to 50%= China)
• Individualist cultures, insecure-resistant was similar to OG sample (14%)
• Collectivist cultures, insecure-resistant rates- above 25%
• In US, only 46% formed secure attachments

Question 5

What was the Italian study on cultural variations?

Answer 5

• Simonelli et al- assessed 76 babies aged 12 months, using SS
• 50%= secure
• 36%= insecure-avoidant
• May be due to increasing number of mothers using childcare
• Patterns of attachment vary with cultural change

Question 6

What was the Korean study on cultural variations?

Answer 6

• Kyoung Jin et al assessed 87 babies
• Proportions were similar to those in most countries
• More insecure-resistant than avoidant
• Explained by child-rearing style

Question 7

What is the main strength of cultural variation research?

Answer 7

• Indigenous researchers

Question 8

What are the main limitations of cultural variations?

Answer 8

• Issues with cross-cultural research
• Confounding variables
• Imposed etic
• Competing explanations

Question 9

Strength:
I- Indigenous researchers are those from the same cultural background as participants

Answer 9

D-Van IJzendoorn and Kroonerberg included research from German and Japanese researchers. Issues of cross cultural research can be avoided (language/communication barriers)
E- Means it is likely communication was successful, so increases validity

Question 10

Limitation:
I- There are issues with cross cultural research

Answer 10

D- Morelli and Tronick were American, studying attachment in Zaire. Data could have been affected by difficulties in communication
E- Means data may have been influenced by bias, so lacks validity

Question 11

Limitation:
I- Confounding variables may affect the data collected

Answer 11

D- Studies in different countries are not matched for methodology in meta-analysis. Sample characteristics (age) and evironmental variables (room size) confound results
E- Means attachment in non-matched studies may tell us little about cross-cultural patterns of attachment

Question 12

Limitation:
I- There are issues with imposed etic

Answer 12

D- Imposing tests deisgned for one cultural context to another is a problem, and occurs when we make assumptions. E.g: reunion (Britain and US= lack of affection- avoidant vs Germany= independence)
E- Means behaviours measured by SS may have differing meanings between contexts

Question 13

Limitation:
I- There are competing explanations

Answer 13

D- Van IJzendoorn and Kroonerberg’s idea that OG cultural differences are obscured because parenting practices are affected by conformity to norms of parenting in media. OR learning theory suggests same reinforcement and associations occur in different contexts
E- May be better alternatives