Cultural Variations in Attachment

Question 1

Aim of experiment (van Ijzedoorn & Kroonenberg)

Answer 1

Look at proportions of secure, avoidant and resistant across a range of countries. Also looked at differences within same countries to get idea of variations within a culture.

Question 2

Procedure

Answer 2

Located 32 studies of attachment in 8 countries, 15 in USA. 1990 children

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

All countries had secure attachment as most common. Insecure resistant was least common: 3% in Britain and 30% in Israel. Insecure avoidant was least in Japan.

Question 4

Italian Study (Simonella et al)

Answer 4

Wanted to find if proportions of babies of different attachment types matched previous studies. 76 12 month olds using SS. 50% secure & 36% insecure avoidant. Low rate of secure attachment. This is maybe because mothers work long hours so use professional childcare.

Question 5

Korean Study (Jin et al)

Answer 5

Same aim as Italian study. 87 children using SS. Most were secure. 1 child was avoidant. Similar to Japan.

Question 6

Conclusions

Answer 6

Secure attachment is the norm in most cultures, supporting Bowlby’s idea that attachment is natural. Shows that cultural practices have a big influence on attachment type.

Question 7

Strength

Answer 7

Large samples. They increase internal validity by reducing impact of anomalous results caused by bad methodology.

Question 8

Weakness

Answer 8

Samples tend to be unrepresentative of culture. The main exp was compared between countries, not cultures. Different cultures in each country: poverty could be one and that could affect attachment.

Question 9

Weakness

Answer 9

SS lacks validity. Related to temperament than to relationship with primary attachment figure. Therefore it is only measuring anxiety.