Attachment - LT6: Cultural Variations in Attachment

Attachment - LT6: Cultural Variations in Attachment

1. Emic/Etic

   • Emic - Behaviours which are culturally specific
     • Etic: 'Rules' in human behaviour which can be applied to all cultures

2. Individalistic/Collectivist

   • "Western Societies" - Focus on the individual
     • Freedom of choice, Personal Gain
   • "Eastern Societies" - Focus on social group
     • Little choice, focus on community needs

3. Van Ijzendoorn x Kroonenberg

   • Similarities
     • Type B Most Common
   • Differences
     • Insecure Resistance was the least common type
       • Insecure Avoidance
         • 1.5 Times more variation within cultures than between
         • 35% Germany
           • 5% Japan
       • 3% GB
         • 30% Israel
   • Supports that there is variation between cultures
   • Meta Analysis of 32 Studies

4. Jin (2005)

   • Compared Korea and America
     • 87 KR Infants
   • Type B? Same Proprtion
     • Supports Van's %'s for Japan
       • Parent practices favour proximity in Asia
     • Type C? More

5. Simonella et al

   • 76 Italian Infants
     • 50% Secure, 36% IA, 14% IR
       • Increased use of childcare due to pressures to work full time
         • Cultural differences impact ratio

6. Strengths

   • P: Large sample sizes
     • E1: Almost 2K Infants
       • E2: Simonella/Jin compared their own research to previously large sample sized groups even if their sample sizes were smaller
         • E3: Increased internal validity as it reduces the impact of outlier results
           • L: Good generalisability

7. Weaknesses

   • P: Biased Assessment Method
     • E1: Strange situation was devised by an American researcher based upon a British Theory
       • E2: Imposed etic by applying an anglo-american theory to another culture
         • E3: Exhibited by lack of separation anxiety x lack of interest on reunion are seen as avoidant in UK, but desirable in Germany
           • L: Decreased internal validity