Cultural Variations In Attachment

Question 1

What research was conducted to analyse cultural variations in attachment?

Answer 1

VAN IJZENDOOM
- conducted a META ANALYSIS to find out the proportuons of secure and insecure attachments across a range of countries.

Question 2

What wS the procedure of VAN IJZENDOOM

Answer 2

32 STRANGE SITUATION studies were conducted in 8 COUNTRIES

• he also looked at differences within countries to get an idea of attachment cariables WITHIN CULTURES.
• 1990 mothers and infants were studied. (Sample size)

Question 3

What were the findings of VAN IJZENDOOM

Answer 3

• UK had highest proportion of SECURE ATTACHMENTS (75%)
• GERMANY had highest proportion of INSECURE AVOIDANT attachments (35%)
• ISRAEL had the highest proportion of INSECURE RESISTANT attachments (29%)

Question 4

What is some explanations for the findings

Answer 4

• german parents seek ‘INDEPENDENT NON CLINGY infants’ who do not make demands on parents but obey their commands (GROSSMAN ET AL)
• israeli children were reared in a KIBBUTZ so were used to being dependent from their mothers. However, are not used to strangers so get distressed when left alone with stranger. This explains the high percentage of RESISTANT BEHAVIOUR

Question 5

What is an additional study/ replication of the strange aituation/

Answer 5

TAKAHASHI

• replicated the ss with 60 middle class infants and mothers using the SAME standardised procedure and behavioural categories.

-revealed DISTINCT cultural differences in how infant’s reacted to the 8 stages.

0% insecure avoudant (as it may be UNNATURAL for babies to be away from mother, breaks cultural norms.

32% insecure resistant.

68% secure

Question 6

What is a strength of van ijzendoom

Answer 6

P- sample suze

E- a large sample size of 1990 infants was used which covered a range of countries across DIFF continents.

E- this means that attachment in a range of countries and a range of families is considered.

L- this is a strength as it improves/ increases EXTERNAL validity of the findings.

Question 7

What is a limitation of van ijzendoom?

Answer 7

P- use of a BIASED sample

E- although a range of studies were used in the meta analysis
18 were from USA whereas ONLY 1 was from CHINA.

E- this sample is HEAVILY BIASED towards INDIVIDUALISTIC cultures.

L- this is a weakness as it LACKS POPULATION VALIDITY, as the findings fail to accurately represent attachment in eastern cultures.