Evaluating cultural variations

Evaluating cultural variations

1. Culture bias.

   • Rothbaum et al (2000) argued that 'The Attachment Theory' is irrelivent to other cultures because it is based of typical American culture
   • 'The sensitivity hypothesis' saying the caregiver should respond sensitivily. In Japan acting sensitively is promoting dependence rather than independence. Therefore sensitivity has two different objectives in two different cultures.
   • 'The continuity hypothesis' saying infants who are more securely attachment become more socially competent adults. In America this is being independent and able to regulate one's own emotions. In Japan it is the opposite. IT is represented by hiding feelings and being group orientated not self.
   • 'The Secure base hypothesis' where secure attachments are seen as providing a secure base for an infant to explore thus promoting independence, in japan it is dependence orientated where one should depend on another. This behaviour encourages insecure attachment

2. Indigenous theories of attachment

   • Posada and Jacobs (2001) note that there is a lot of evidence to support the universality of attachment.
   • They point out it is not whether sensitivity leads to dependence or independence but whether it leads to secure attachment
   • Prior and Glaser (2006) conclude sensitivity and secure base behaviour may vary across cultures but the core concepts are universal

3. Nation Versus culture

   • Unjust to generalise japan since it has subcultures all with different practises
     • eg Tokyo has similar patterns to the Western studies
   • some middle class some working class infants used
   • Van IJzendoom and Kroonenberg conclude a great caution should be exercised in assuming an individual sample is representative of a particular sub culture

4. Explaining Cultural similarities

   • Cross culture similarities could be because of media
     • May not be due to innate biological influences

5. Cross-cultural research

   • understanding the language issues
   • Tools used
   • Difference in opinion. Secure to Japan, Insecure to us etc