Cross-Cultural Differences in Attachments

What we are learning today

What is a collectivist versus an individualistic culture? What are the general similarities/differences across cultures? Are there differences in the types of attachments in different cultures? The Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg study (1988)

Some key terms

Culture: The things that make our society what it is In Western Culture, what things might these be? Subculture: Distinctions within one culture Can you think of examples subculture in the UK?

There are basic differences between cultures

COLLECTIVIST CULTURES
Importance is placed on the group as a whole e.g. Groups live and work together sharing tasks, belongings and child bearing

INDIVIDUALIST CULTURES
Importance is placed on the individual and achieving your own personal goals Being able to stand on your own two feet is valued

They aspire to be dependent on each other rather than function as individuals

What has psychological research found?

RESEARCH HAS FOUND SIMILARITIES:

Keller et al (1988) found that patterns of eye contact and conversation between mothers and infants were similar in four diverse cultures (German, Greek, Yanomami-Indians and Trobriand islanders)

BUT IT HAS ALSO FOUND DIFFERENCES:

Rabain-Jamin (1989) found a greater amount of conversation between French mothers and their children than between West African mothers and their children.

What about child attachment types?

Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg (1988)

Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg carried out a META-ANALYSIS to find out about attachments types in different cultures. A META-ANALYSIS is a research method in which a research team collates and analyses data from many studies carried out by other researchers. This makes it possible to gain a broad overview of findings. Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg wanted to find out: a) Whether the proportions of secure (B), insecure avoidant (A) and insecure resistant (C) children were the same in all cultures b) How much inter-cultural variation in attachment types exists.

Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg (1988)

You will be given a hand-out with details of Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenbergs study. Using this sheet, complete the following tasks: 1. In no more than 50 words, describe how Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg carried out their cross-cultural study of attachments. 2. Make a bar chart to summarise the findings of the study (using data from Table 1). 3. Use the statement bank to sort evaluative points into POSITIVE CRITICISMS and NEGATIVE CRITICISMS.

Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg (1988)

Bar chart to show results of Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg's meta-analysis of the Strange Situation in 8 cultures
80

% of children in attachment type

70 60 50 Insecure Avoidant (A) 40 30 20 10 0 Germany Great Britain Netherlands Sweden Culture Israel Japan China USA Secure (B) Insecure Resistant (C)