CULTURAL VARIATIONS IN ATTACHMENT

HOW MIGHT ATTACHMENT DIFFER ACROSS THESE CULTURES? WHY? Top of pg.33 in packs

However, if patterns of attachment differ cross-culturally then it is better explained by learned environmental cultural differences rather than biologically passed down through evolution CROSS-CULTURAL IDEAS If Bowlbys view that attachments have evolved is true, then you would expect to see similar patterns of attachment cross-culturally

VAN IJZENDOORN & KROONENBERG (1988) study Cultural differences in attachment types Conducted a large scale Meta-Analysis in which they analysed the results of 32 separate studies in eight countries which used Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’.Meta-Analysis In total over 2000 babies were studied. Percentages of children who fell into each attachment type were analysed and compared

TASK: produce a graph of the results shown in this table – pg.34 Highest percentage of securely attached: Great Britain Lowest percentage of securely attached: China Highest percentage of securely attached: Great Britain Lowest percentage of securely attached: China Highest percentage of insecure - avoidant: Germany Lowest percentage of insecure - avoidant Japan Highest percentage of insecure - avoidant: Germany Lowest percentage of insecure - avoidant Japan Highest percentage of insecure - resistant: Israel Lowest percentage of insecure - resistant: Sweden Highest percentage of insecure - resistant: Israel Lowest percentage of insecure - resistant: Sweden TASK: add to your table on pg. 33 Netherlands and Sweden

EXAM QUESTION: SUMMARISE THE TABLE BELOW (6 MARKS) Country Number of Studies Secure (%) Avoidant (%) Ambivalent (%) Great Britain US Japan West Germany

WHY THESE RESULTS? Country Number of Studies Secure (%) Avoidant (%) Ambivalent (%) Great Britain US Japan West Germany Great Britain and the US are individualistic – we encourage independence and not being reliant on others, hence the exploration behaviour. Many children are used to being in day care but yet not used to strangers, which could explain the avoidant behaviour on separation

WHY THESE RESULTS? Country Number of Studies Secure (%) Avoidant (%) Ambivalent (%) Great Britain US Japan West Germany Japan is an individualistic culture. Japanese children are very rarely left by their mother. So the distress they show when she leaves is probably more due to shock than it is to insecure attachment. The distress they show when left alone with the stranger is also more likely to be due to absence of the mother.

WHY THESE RESULTS? Country Number of Studies Secure (%) Avoidant (%) Ambivalent (%) Great Britain US Japan West Germany The German study highlights a high percentage of avoidant behaviour, typical of independent children. This is not surprising given that Grossmann et al (1985) say that German parents seek ‘independent, non-clingy infants, who do not make demands on parents, but obey their commands.’

DIFFERENCES WITHIN CULTURES In 2 Japanese studies, one had no Type A whereas the other one had 20% - this is an example of INTRA-CULTURAL VARIATION This was appox. 1 ½ x more than CROSS CULTURAL VARIATIONS

DIFFERENCES WITHIN A CULTURE This demonstrates that it is an over-simplification to assume that all children are brought up in exactly the same way within a country or culture

BASED ON THESE RESULTS… 1)Type B SECURE attachments are most common regardless of culture 2)There are different types within cultures suggesting that it is an over simplification to assume that children are brought up in the same way in a particular country / culture

Simonella (2014) – conducted a study using strange situation. Only 50% of infants were securely attached. The researchers suggest this change could be due to increasing numbers of mothers working longer hours. Using your text books what did Fox (1977) find in relation to cultural differences in child rearing? What did Goldberg (2002) argue? Add these to your attachment research bank OTHER RESEARCH METHODOLOGY LINK: complete the questions on pg 36 and 37. look up any key terms and make sure these are in your notes TASK: how might Bowlby explain these cultural variations? Complete pg. 35 in your packs Read the evaluation table on pg 36 of your packs – can you identify G R A V and E?

1.Explain how Van Ijzendoorn studied cultural variations in attachment (4 marks) 2.Describe what research has shown about cultural variations in attachment (6 marks) 3.Explain one criticism of research into cultural variations in attachment (3 marks) 4.Describe and evaluate research into cultural variations in attachment (12 marks) EXAM QUESTIONS – 1 MARK PER MIN PLEASE COMPLETE FOR HOMEWORK

EXPLAIN HOW VAN IJZENDOORN STUDIED CULTURAL VARIATIONS IN ATTACHMENT (4 MARKS) Meta analysis… 2 separate studies in eight countries which used Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’. In total over 2000 babies were studied. Percentages of children who fell into each attachment type were analysed and compared

DESCRIBE WHAT RESEARCH HAS SHOWN ABOUT CULTURAL VARIATIONS IN ATTACHMENT (6 MARKS) Much of the research has used the Strange Situation. Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s meta-analysis found secure attachment was the most common in all cultures studied. The lowest percentage of secure attachment was shown in China, and the highest in Great Britain. Avoidant attachment was more common in West Germany but rare in Israel and Japan. Variation within cultures was 1.5 times greater than the variation between cultures Research relating to infants raised on Israeli Kibbutzim is also credit-worthy

EXPLAIN ONE CRITICISM OF RESEARCH INTO CULTURAL VARIATIONS IN ATTACHMENT (3 MARKS) Must know cultural differences in child rearing e.g Fox (1977) Large sample needed Different cultures – collectivist vs individualistic Same country showed different attachment styles suggesting other factors other than culture

DESCRIBE AND EVALUATE RESEARCH INTO CULTURAL VARIATIONS IN ATTACHMENT (12 MARKS) AO1 - Candidates may refer to one study in reasonable detail, or more than one in less detail. They may cover methodology, findings and / or conclusions. Much of the research has used the strange situation. Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s meta-analysis found secure attachment was the most common in all cultures studied. The lowest % of secure attachment was shown in China, and the highest in Great Britain. Avoidant attachment was more common in West Germany but rare in Israel and Japan. Variation within cultures was 1.5 times greater than the variation between cultures. Candidates may also refer to Takahashi who found high levels of resistant attachment in Japanese infants. Research relating to infants raised on Israeli Kibbutzim is also credit- worthy. In the unlikely event that candidates refer to theories / models, answers should be marked on their merits. AO3 - Candidates may refer to ethical issues because the strange situation may have been stressful for the infant. The validity of research using the strange situation can be questioned. Children who have been in day care may appear to be insecurely avoidant because they are used to being separated from their mother. The strange situation was developed in America and may have limitations in studying attachment types in different cultures. Candidates may refer to positive aspects of the strange situation such as replication of the controlled conditions. The Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s meta-analysis can be criticised because of the limited number of studies in some countries. Also the problems of over-generalising from a limited sample could be relevant.