cultural variations

cultural variations

1. van ijendoorn and kroonenberg

   • procedure
     • 32 studies of attachment
     • eight countries
     • aims
       • intercultural differences?
         • in different cultures and countries
       • intracultural differnces
         • in the same cultures and countries
   • findings
     • between cultures = small differences.
       • except japan and israel
     • within culture = variation 1.5 times greater.
     • secure attachment= americas norm
       • cultural similarities supports the view that attachment is an innate and biological process
   • cultural similarities
     • tronick et al
       • african tribe EFE: extended family groups
       • babies breastfed by several women
         • sleep with bio mum
           • at six months still have one primary attachment
   • cultural differences
     • grossman&grossman
       • found that german children children = insecure
         • culture = interpersonal distance between parents and children
         • infants dont engage in proximity-seeking behaviors
         • appear insecure but considered secure in the culture
     • takahashi
       • rarely left alone
         • opposite of g&g
       • japan

2. evaluation

   • similarities may not be innately determined.
     • mass media?
       • exposed to similar influences
         • tv programmes
         • books (on parenting?)
         • migrants
     • increasingly global culture
   • nation rather than culture
     • subcultures
     • van ijendoorn&sagi
       • tokyo
         • urban tokyo = attachment like western studies (usa)
         • rural tokyo = 'insecure-resistant'
   • cross-cultural research.
     • imposed etic
       • designed in one culture and imposed upon another
     • japanese children may appear insecure by western criteria but secure by japanese standards
       • the strange situation may lack validity
   • culture bias
     • rothbaum
       • method AND theory issues
         • rooted in american culture
           • social and emotionally competent =
             • exploration
             • independance
             • regulate emotion
             • BUT
               • japan = dependence vs independence.
               • collectivist culture