Cultural variations in attachment

• Cultural Differences - Grossmann +Grossmann- German infants tended to be insecurely attached, this may be due to childrearing practices which do not engage in proximity seeking behaviours in the SS - Takahashi- used the SS on 60 middle class Japanese families- found normal rates of secure but higher insecure-resistant (32%.) The infants were distressed when left alone, which might be due to the fact that Japanese infants are rarely separated.
• Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) - Meta-analysis of 32 studies, 2000 strange situation cases in 8 countries Intercultural differences- differences between cultures/countries Intracultural differences- differences within the same culture Findings: • Secure attachment most common in all countries • Insecure-avoidant 2nd most common apart from Israel and Japan (collectivist at the time) • Intracultural differences 1.5x greater than intercultural Findings support idea that secure attachment is best for healthy social and Cultural Differences emotional development.