Cultural variations

IJzendoorn & Kroonenberg 1988

  • investigate different attach. types in various cultures
  • meta-analysis - 32 studies of 8 countries

Meta-analysis - examination of data from a number of independent studies of the same subject, in order to determine overall trends.

→ used Strange situ.

  • Globally most common attachment type - Type B

least common - Type C

Type A most common - GERMANY - value independence

Type C most common - CHINA & ISRAEL first 12m mother away a lot

  • clear diff. in cross cultural attachment types

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

  • not generalisable

→ based more on ethnocentrism - Attachment styles created in US study

not generalisable to Eastern cultures where it is more collectivist

  • not valid

→ some studies had biased samples which cannot be represented

  • samples small & majority taken from western cultures

refer to differences in child rearing practices & attachment type

→ see whether attachment types are universal or culturally influenced

  • No ethical issues

→ secondary data so no one directly harmed

  • ethically sound
  • Replicable

→ constant procedure for samples - all used SS to assess attachment types