Cultural variations

Question 1

What did Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg do?

Answer 1

They conducted a study to look at the proportions of secure, insecure-avoidant and insecure-resistant attachments (Ainsworth) across a range of countries to assess cultural variation
They also looked at the differences within the same countries to get an idea of variations within a culture

Question 2

Describe Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s procedure

Answer 2

They found 32 studies in attachment where the Strange Situation had been used
These were conducted in 8 countries - 15 studies were from America
Overall there were results from 1,990 children
The data from these 32 studies was meta analysed - results of the studies were combined and analysed together

Question 3

What were the findings for secure attachment in Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s study?

Answer 3

Secure attachment was the most common classification in all countries, but it varied from 75% in Britain to 50% in China

Question 4

What were the findings for insecure-resistant attachment in Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s study?

Answer 4

In individualist cultures rates of insecure-resistant attachment were similar to Ainsworth’s original sample
This was not true for the collectivist samples from China, Japan and Israel where rates were about 25%

Question 5

Describe the variations between results of studies

Answer 5

Variations between results of studies within the same country were actually 150% greater than those between countries EG. in the USA, one study found only 46% securely attached compared to one sample as high as 90%

Question 6

What did Simonelli et al. do?

Answer 6

The researchers assessed 76 babies that were 12 month olds using the Strange Situation to see whether the attachment proportions matched previous studies
The mothers were varied in education level (degrees, high school) and their profession (employed, part-time, didn’t work)

Question 7

What were Simonelli’s findings?

Answer 7

They found 50% were secure, with 36% insecure-avoidant
This was a lower rate of secure attachment than found in previous studies
The researchers suggested this was because increasing numbers of mothers of very young children work long hours and use professional childcare
These findings suggest that patterns of attachment types are not static but vary in line with cultural change

Question 8

What were Simonelli’s conclusions?

Answer 8

Secure attachment seems to be the norm in a wide range of cultures, supporting Bowlby’s idea that attachment is innate and universal
However, the research also clearly shows that cultural practices have an influence on attachment type

Question 9

Give 2 strengths of cultural variation

Answer 9

1. Meta analysis = large sample size - In Van Ijzendoorn meta analysis, there were almost 2,000 babies studied. Simonelli’s et al. also had a large comparison group. Large samples increase internal validity - reducing the impact of biased methodology or anomalies
2. Indigenous researchers - Indigenous psychologists are those from the same cultural background as the participants. This kind of research means that many of the potential problems in cross-cultural research can be avoided, such as researchers’ misunderstanding of the language used by participants or having difficulty communicating instructions to them. This enhances the validity of the data collected

Question 10

Give 2 limitations of cultural variation

Answer 10

1. Strange situation is biased towards USA/ British culture - It was designed by Ainsworth (American) but based on Bowlby’s (British) theory. This assessment may not be applicable in all cultures. Imposed etic occurs when we assume an idea or technique that works in one cultural context will work in another. The idea that a lack of pleasure on reunion indicates insecure attachment is an imposed etic. In Germany this behaviour might be seen more as independence than avoidance and not a sign of insecurity
2. Alternative explanations for similarities found between cultures - Bowlby’s explanation for cultural similarities was that attachment is innate and universal so produces the same kind of behaviours all over the world. Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg proposed an alternative possibility. They suggested that small cross-cultural differences may reflect the effects of mass media. Books and TV programmes portray parenting norms - this is why similarities have become more common

Question 11

How many babies were in Simonelli et al’s study?

Answer 11

76 one year olds