Cultural variations in attachment

• What is the problem with Bowlby‘s theory?

  Bowlby says attachment is a biologically innate process which would suggest no cultural variation
• Define an individualist culture

  UK/USA children are raised independently by their own parents. Rates of insecure resistant were under 14%
• Define a collectivist culture

  China/Japan children are raised by groups of people. Insecure avoidant attachment were lower
• What is a secure attachment?

  Child explores happily but regularly go back to their caregiver. Shows moderate separation and stranger anxiety, 60-70% of British babies
• What is insecure avoidant attachment?

  Babies explore freely and don’t seek closeness with caregiver. Little or no reaction when caregiver leaves or a stranger joins. 20-25% of British babies
• What is insecure resistant attachment?

  Seek close proximity with caregiver so explore less. High levels of stress and separation anxiety but resist comfort when reunited. 3% of British babies
• What was the aim of Van IJzendoorn and Krooneburgs research?

  A meta analysis to research the proportions of different attachment types over a range of cultures
• What did van IJzendoorn and Krooneberg do?

  Located 32 studies of attachment where the Strange situation was used. Over 8 countries, 1990 children
• Van IJzendoorn and Kroonebergs findings?

  In all countries, secure attachment was the most common, however the proportions varied : 75% in Britain and 50% in China. The variations between results of studies within the same country was 150% greater than the variations between results between different countries
• Simonelli et al (2014)

  Modern study in Italy. 76 babies assessed in Strange situation. There was 50% secure attachment and 36% insecure attachment. This may be due to increasing numbers of working hours and children being put in professional childcare