Cultural variations in attachment

Question 1

What is the procedure and findings of Van Ijzandoorn and Kroonenberg’s study in 1988

Answer 1

• In order to investigate cultural variations in attachment, they conducted a meta-analysis of 32 studies that had used the strange situation across 8 countries, used to assess attachment types both within and between cultures
• Found that secure attachment type was most common in all countries investigated, lowest percentage was found in China and highest percentage was found in Great Britain
• Insecure-resistant attachments were least common, Japan, where mothers rarely leave children in early childhood, were found to have highest percentage of insecure-resistant children along with Israel
• West Germany, where mothers encourage independence in children, was found to have highest percentage in insecure-avoidant children (which is rare in Japan)
• Variations within cultures 1.5 times greater than variations between cultures, in USA one study found 46% were securely attached whereas another found 90% were securely attached
• Therefore this suggests must be innate and biological and difference in child rearing practices is down to countries rather than cultures

Question 2

What is the procedure and findings of Simonella et al’s study in 2014

Answer 2

• In order to investigate whether the proportions of attachment types still match those found in previous studies, Simonella used the strange situation to assess attachment types in infants
• Found that 50% were securely attached (lower rate than previous studies)
• Found that 36% has insecure-avoidant attachment (higher rate than previous studies)
• Suggests that this could be due to increasing number of mothers working and using professional childcare

Question 3

Outline one strength of Cultural variations in attachment

Answer 3

• One strength is that they typically used meta-analyses to draw conclusions from a wide range of studies
• E.g. Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s study was a meta-analysis of 32 studies across 8 countries
• Strength because large samples reduce impact of anomalous results e.g. caused by bad methodology
• Therefore increases validity of findings into cross cultural variations in attachment types

Question 4

Outline the final strength of Cultural variations in attachment

Answer 4

• One strength is that it is typically conducted in highly controlled environments
• Because cross-cultural research into attachment types has used the strange situation method (highly controlled and standardised observational method)
• Strength because ensures research studies in meta analyses are easy to compare without risk of invalid conclusions due to extraneous variables such as situational variables being present in the research methodologies
  -Therefore adds validity to the conclusions of meta analysis into cultural variations in attachment

Question 5

Outline one limitation of Cultural variations in attachment

Answer 5

(Continuation from final strength)
- However, limitation is that they have been criticised for using strange situation method
- Because it was developed in USA (different child-rearing practices so may not be appropriate to replicate in other cultures to measure cultural variations in attachment type)
- E.g. Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg found varying percentages of attachment types among different cultures (West Germany has higher percentage of insecure-avoidant, Japan has higher percentage of insecure-resistant)
- Limitation because could result in German parents labelled as insensitive and rejecting, and Japanese parents labelled as being inconsistent with childcare
- In reality, however, findings can be explained by children in Germany encouraged to be more independent and children in Japan rarely separated from mothers to are likely to display extreme separation and stranger anxiety
- Therefore questions appropriateness of strange situation for measuring attachment types in different cultures

Question 6

Outline the final limitation of Cultural variations in attachment

Answer 6

• One limitation is that the samples used in studies may not represent the culture as a whole
• E.g. some sample sizes were too small or of a particular social class
• Limitation because it means can be difficult to conclude whether findings are representative for the entire culture
• Therefore questions the validity of conclusions drawn regarding cultural variations in attachment