Consider what psychological research has shown us about cross-cultural variations in attachment
13th September 2005 Louise Collins
Consider what psychological research has shown us about cross-cultural variations in attachment
Researchers in many different countries have used the Strange Situation to investigate secure and insecure attachment. The results of 32 such studies undertaken in eight different countries have been summarised by Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988). Bee (1999) points out that the most striking finding is that there is considerable consistency across cultures, and concludes that it is likely that the same caregiver-infant interactions contribute to secure and insecure attachments in all cultures.
However, fours countries stand out in this research as having a larger than average proportion of insecurely attached children: Japan, Israel, Germany and China.
In the study cited in Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenburg’s research, 25% of Japanese children were insecure resistant in their attachment organisation. Takahashi challenged these findings and set up a study to consider whether it is appropriate to use the Strange Situation procedure with Japanese children. The key question was whether the Strange Situation is a valid procedure for cultures other than the original carried out on American, middle-class, white, home-reared infants and their mothers. Takahashi, therefore observed a group of children in the strange situation, who matched the Americans on every variable except culture.
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Summary This essay covers the the topic in some detail showing an understanding of the subject. However, the latter part of the essay is a bit thin on the ground and possibly rushed. The writer clearly understands what cultural variation means and has produced evidence to explain some of the cross cultural variations. However, a little more time should have been spent on the differences with Israeli children since many are brought up in collectives, with many care givers. The essay needs a bit more structure and a better introduction and conclusion. However, the writer has summarised most of the research well and if the latter part was improved upon this essay would be marked far higher. Star rating 3 *