3.6 Cultural Variations in Attachment

• The Strange Situation may misclassify Japanese infants as Insecure-Resistant due to cultural biases.
• In Western cultures, the emphasis on independence often results in Insecure-Avoidant attachment.
• The Japanese practice of *amae*, which indulges children's dependence, fosters interdependence and leads to high rates of Secure attachment.
• Match the culture with its child-rearing practice and its impact on attachment:

  Western Culture ↔️ Encourage independence with minimal physical contact ||| Insecure-Avoidant Attachment

  Japanese Culture ↔️ Emphasize interdependence through *amae* ||| Secure Attachment
• What is the Japanese child-rearing practice that emphasizes dependence and interdependence?

  *Amae*
• Western cultures often emphasize independence, which may lead to Insecure-Avoidant Attachment.
• Ecological Validity in attachment theories refers to how well research findings apply to real-world situations across cultures
• What type of attachment is commonly associated with the Japanese practice of *amae*?

  Secure Attachment
• Attachment refers to the strong emotional bond formed between an infant and their primary caregiver
• Order the main types of attachment from most secure to least secure

  1️⃣ Secure Attachment

  2️⃣ Insecure-Avoidant Attachment

  3️⃣ Insecure-Resistant Attachment
• Infants with insecure-avoidant attachment show distress when separated from their caregiver.

  False
• Infants with insecure-resistant attachment resist comfort upon reunion
• What behavior do infants with secure attachment display upon reunion with their caregiver?

  Relief
• The study of cultural variations in attachment aims to determine whether attachment types are universal.
• Different cultures emphasize either independence or interdependence
• Match the culture with its child-rearing practice:

  Western culture ↔️ Encourage independence

  Non-Western culture (e.g., Japan) ↔️ Emphasize interdependence
• In Japan, mothers often practice *amae*, which involves indulging children's dependence
• What is the long-term impact of secure attachment on a child's development?

  Higher self-esteem
• What is the primary definition of attachment in psychology?

  Strong emotional bond
• Match each attachment type with its corresponding behavior:

  Secure Attachment ↔️ Distressed by separation, soothed upon reunion

  Insecure-Avoidant Attachment ↔️ Little distress upon separation, avoids caregiver

  Insecure-Resistant Attachment ↔️ High distress upon separation, resists comfort
• The study of cultural variations in attachment aims to understand how different child-rearing practices across cultures influence attachment development.
• Some cultures emphasize independence, while others focus on interdependence in child-rearing.
• Which type of child-rearing practice is associated with Insecure-Avoidant attachment in Western cultures?

  Encourage independence
• In non-Western cultures like Japan, child-rearing practices emphasizing interdependence may lead to Insecure-Resistant or Secure attachment.
• What is the term for the Japanese child-rearing practice of indulging children's dependence to foster secure attachment?

  Amae
• Match each study with its key findings:

  Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) ↔️ Meta-analysis of 32 Strange Situation studies

  Takahashi (1990) ↔️ Observations using Strange Situation in Japan
• Great Britain had high rates of secure attachment in Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg's meta-analysis.
• Why did Takahashi (1990) find very low rates of insecure-avoidant attachment in Japan?

  Mothers' reluctance to leave
• Order the methodological limitations of cross-cultural attachment research:

  1️⃣ Cultural bias in Strange Situation

  2️⃣ Ethnocentrism

  3️⃣ Lack of universal definitions

  4️⃣ Influence of child-rearing practices
• Infants with Secure Attachment show distress upon separation and relief upon reunion with their caregiver.
• What behavior do infants with Insecure-Avoidant Attachment display when separated from their caregiver?

  Little distress
• Infants with Insecure-Resistant Attachment are highly distressed by separation and resist comfort upon reunion.
• Researchers can compare Western cultures emphasizing independence with non-Western cultures emphasizing interdependence to study attachment variations.
• The aim of studying cultural variations in attachment is to determine whether attachment types are universal or culturally specific
• Western cultures emphasize independence, which may lead to insecure-avoidant attachment.
• What is the main goal of studying cultural variations in attachment?

  Inform child development strategies
• The study of cultural variations in attachment helps understand how different child-rearing practices influence the development of attachment
• Which child-rearing practice in Japan fosters interdependence and secure attachment?

  Amae
• In Japan, mothers often practice amae, which involves indulging children's dependence.
• Match the country with its primary attachment type as found in Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg's meta-analysis:

  Great Britain ↔️ Secure attachment

  Germany ↔️ Insecure-avoidant attachment

  Israel ↔️ Insecure-resistant attachment