Cultural Variations

Cultural Variations

1. Individualistic culture (Western)

   • Importance is placed upon the individual

2. Collectivist culture (Non-western)

   • Importance is placed upon the group as a whole

3. Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg

   • AO1
     • Meta-analysis of 32 studies that use SS from 8 countries with over 200 children involved
     • Results
       • Overall consistency in distribution of attachment types = universal characteristics that underpin infant and PCG interactions
       • Most common attachment style in all 8 counties = Secure
       • Considerable differences in Insecure types
         • Avoidant = W
         • Resistant = NW
       • 1.5 x greater variation of attachment styles within cultures than between culture
         • Suggests sub-cultural comparison studies may be more valid that cross-cultural comparisons
           • The significant differences also question the validity of SS
       • To conclude, results show that there are differences in child-rearing practices across cultures
         • Although must be some similarities due to Secure being most common in all countries
   • AO2
     • High population validity
       • 2000 infants
         • Results about cultural variations in attachments can be generalised to rest of target population
     • 50% studies still from the USA and only 5 (of the 32) from collectivist cultures
       • Therefore study has inherited culture bias
         • Must be cautious when generalising the results across cultures
           • Limits the value of the insight this meta-analysis gives us about cultural variations in attachment styles
     • Meta-analyse used SS which has already been criticised for imposed etic
       • Based solely on W cultural norms, ignores NW
         • Take caution when generalising results about cultural variations in attachment styles as SS may not be suitable or appropriate to measure attachments in counties such as Israel, China and Japan
     • Goldberg
       • Argues that we need to understand the different child-rearing practices used in the other cultures before being able to make valid interpretations about the attachment styles

4. Also see Takahashi mindmap