Developmental: Cross Cultural Variations Of Attachment

Question 1

What did Van Ljzendoorn and Kroonenberg study?

Answer 1

A meta analysis of studies of attachment in different countries.
Looked at proportions of different SSC attachment types.
Found secure was always the most common, but significant variation.

Question 2

What was USAs proportions of attachment?

Answer 2

• Secure = 65%
• Avoidant = 21%
• Resistant = 14%
  Regular close contact

Question 3

What was Germanys proportions of attachment?

Answer 3

• Secure = 57%
• Avoidant = 35%
• Resistant = 8%
  Independence is valued

Question 4

What was Israel’s proportions of attachment?

Answer 4

• Secure = 64%
• Avoidant = 7%
• Resistant = 29%
  E.g. Communal care in Kibbutz (children spent limited time with parents, slept in a communal separate children’s home)

Question 5

What were Japans proportions of attachment?

Answer 5

• Secure = 68%
• Avoidant = 5%
• Resistant = 27%
  Mother and child rarely separated

Question 6

What’s some evaluation for this study?

Answer 6

• many studies have limited samples - cannot claim to be representative of each culture
• probably more variation within cultures than between them.

Question 7

What are the 2 different types of cultures?

Answer 7

Individualist and collectivist

Question 8

What is ethnocentrism?

Answer 8

The tendency to believe that one’s ethnic or cultural group is centrally important, and that all other groups are measured in relation to ones own - this is imposed etic

Question 9

What’s some conclusions from the study?

Answer 9

• the countries included in the review were both western and non western (china and Japan), but only 3 of the 32 studies were carried out in China and Japan. The different patterns of reaction to the SS seem to reflect cultures values and practises. E.g. the greater the frequency pf avoidant in Germany may reflect the cultural emphasis on early independence training
• the greater frequency of resistant in Japan may result from the greater stress during the SS due to infants unfamiliarity with being left with stranger. Japanese children are rarely separated from their mothers, so the separation episodes are most likely upsetting for these children.