Cultural variations in attachment

Procedure

Conducted a meta-analysis where 32 studies of attachment using the strange situation were located. They were conducted in eight countries with over 1,990 children.

Findings

In all countries, secure attachment was the most common. This was 75% in Britain compared to 50% in China. Insecure-resistant was the least common, ranging from 3% in Britian to 30% in Israel. Insecure-avoidant was oberserved most commonly in Germany and least commonly in Japan. Variations within studies in the same country were actually 150% greater than those between countries.

Simonella

Conducted a study in Italy where 76 12-month olds were assessed with the Strange Situation. 50% were secure, with 36% insecure-avoidant. This is a low rate of secure attachment.

Large Samples

A strength of combining results is that it creates a large sample, such as Van IJzendoorn having nearly 2,000 babies in his study. A large sample is a strength as it increases internal validity by reducing the impact of anomalous results.

Samples tend to be unrepresentative of culture

The meta-analysis by Van IJzendoorn claimed to measure cultural variation whereas comparisons were actually made between countries. Within any country there are many different cultures with different child-rearing practices. Van IJzendoorn and Sagi conducted an analysis where it was found that distribution of attachment type in Tokyo (urban) were similar to Western studies, whereas a more rural sample had an over-representation of insecure-resistant. Therefore comparisons between countries may have little meaning.

Method of assessment is biased

The strange-situation was designed by an American researcher based upon a British theory. It is debatabel whether Anglo-American theories can be applied to other cultures. Trying to apply a theory or technique designed for one culture onto another is called imposed etic. For example Germany having a high level of inseucre-avoidant may be seen as a sign of insecurity by the strange situation, whereas in Germany this behaviour is seen as more independent.

The Strange Situation lacks validity

Kagan criticised the Strange Situation by suggesting that attachment type is more related to temperament of the child than to the relationship with the primary attachment type. Therefore it may infact measure anxiety rather than attachment which could consequently flaw this entire research if it is not measuring what is being studied.