Lesson 9- Cultural variations in attachments

Question 1

What do differences in cultures & hence differences in child rearing practices lead to?

Answer 1

Variations in 👶 rearing practices in different cultures-> variation in attachment types

Question 2

Who conducted a study in Uganda 🇺🇬, when did they do & what did they find?

Answer 2

Ainsworth (1967)- Uganda 🇺🇬:

• 2 year naturalistic observation of 26 🤰 & 👶
• Some 🤰 ⬆️ ‘sensitive’ to 👶- these 🤰 ⬆️ likely had ‘securely attached’ 👶
• Secure attachment-> ⬆️ competence & independence for 👶

Question 3

Who conducted a study in Italy 🇮🇹, when did they do & what did they find?

Answer 3

Simonella (2014)- 🇮🇹:

• Conducted study to check attachment types
• Out of 76 we month old 👶- 50% securely attached & 36% insecure-avoidant
• Lower rate of secure attachments than found in other studies- due to ⬆️ women in work (using professional 👶care)

Question 4

Who conducted a study in Africa, when did they do & what did they find?

Answer 4

Tronick et al. (1992)- Africa:

• Studied African tribe- live in extended family groups
• … 👶 looked after & breastfed by different 👩 (BUT 👶 💤 with 🤰 at night)
• 👶 at 6 months still showed only 1 primary attachment … supports monotropy idea

Question 5

Who conducted a study in Japan 🇯🇵 , when did they do & what did they find?

Answer 5

Takahashi (1990)- 🇯🇵:

• 60 middle-class Japanese 👶 & 🤰 showed ⬆️ rates of insecure-resistant attachment (32%) & ✖️ evidence of insecure-avoidant attachment
• ALSO 👶 distressed when left alone- study stopped for 90% of 👶
• In 🇯🇵 👶 rarely experience separation from 🤰… ⬆️ distressed in ‘strange situation’ than 🇺🇸 peers

Question 6

Who conducted a study in Germany 🇩🇪, when did they do & what did they find?

Answer 6

Grossman & Grossman (1991)- 🇩🇪:

• German 👶 tended to classify as insecurely attached (insecure avoidant ) rather than securely
• Due to 👶-rearing practices (parents & 👶 maintain interpersonal distance)

Question 7

What key 🔑 study did Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg conduct in 1998?

Answer 7

• Conducted meta-analysis (combined data) of findings of 32 studies on attachment 🏃‍♂‍
• Over 2000 strange situation classifications examined in 8 different countries

Question 8

What were the findings of the key study into attachments from different countries?

Answer 8

• In all countries ‘secure attachment’ most common
• China 🇨🇳 (collectivist culture) had lowest ⬇️ amount of secure attachments (50%)
• Insecure-avoidant next most common except in Israel 🇮🇱 & 🇯🇵- ⬆️ in individualist cultures e.g. West 🇩🇪 (greatest emphasis on independence), 🇬🇧 etc
• Insecure-resistant common in collectivist cultures- 🇨🇳, 🇯🇵 & 🇮🇱
• Variations between results of studies within same country 150% greater than between countries

Question 9

What conclusion did the key study investigating attachments from different cultures come to?

Answer 9

• Secure attachment most common … suggests most 👶 regardless of culture will form secure attachments
• Supports idea that secure attachment ‘best’ for healthy social & emotional development & that attachment innate

Question 10

What are the evaluation points of cultural variations in attachments?

Answer 10

👎- Samples usually unrepresentative of culture- meta-analysis by Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg had comparisons between countries BUT ✖️ cultures (many cultures within country each with different 👶-rearing practices)
👍- Large sample- combining results in meta-analysis-> very large sample e.g. 2000 👶 &🤰 in Van Ijzendoorn meta-analysis- large samples ⬆️ internal validity by ⬇️ impact of anomalous results caused by bad 👎 methodology or unusual pps
👎- Method of assessment biased – using Strange Situation in non-Western culture is example of imposed etic (cultural universality- similarities) … questioned whether Anglo-American (Western-based) theories & assessments can be applied to other cultures- EXAMPLE- separation anxiety & lack of pleasure on reunion indicates insecure attachment in Strange Situation BUT in 🇩🇪 this 🏃‍♂‍ seen as independence ✖️ avoidance & … ✖️ sign of insecurity within that culture- EXTENDED EVALUATION BELOW ⬇️

Rothbaum et al. (2000)- argued attachment theory & research ✖️ relevant to other cultures as so rooted in 🇺🇸 culture
3 major differences between cultures (specifically 🇺🇸 & 🇯🇵):
1) Sensitivity hypothesis- Bowlby & Ainsworth promoted view that sensitive 🤰 encourages 👶 to eventually become independent BUT in collectivist cultures like 🇯🇵 sensitivity about promoting dependence rather than independence
2) Continuity hypothesis- Bowlby & Ainsworth proposed more securely attached infants develop into ⬆️ socially & emotionally competent 👶 & adults- BUT emotionally competent has different meaning in different cultures- Western cultures expected to discuss & show emotions BUT other cultures e.g. 🇯🇵 ppl ✖️ expected to show & share emotions
3) Secure-base hypothesis – In West secure attachments provide infant with secure base to explore from-> independence BUT in collectivist cultures e.g. 🇯🇵 attachment is dependence-oriented
- … Rothbaum suggested that attachment theories ✖️ be generalised to all cultures