Evaluating cultural variations

LO: to be able to evaluate criticisms of research on cultural

variations in attachment

Recap:

• What did Ijzendoorn & kroonenberg (1988) conclude?– Similarities of cultures– Differences within cultures

Culture Bias

• Rothbaum et al (2000) attachment research is not valid because of biased research

• Rothbaum looked at the contrasts between cultures

VS.

Making notes

• Use the handout to fill in the appropriate sections as we go through the PPT

• You will need a quick refresh on:– The sensitivity hypothesis– The continuity hypothesis– The secure base hypothesis

Sensitivity hypothesis

• What is it fill in brief explanation

• Rothbaum et al argues:– Reflects western only societies and the idea of

autonomy (personal independence) whereas Japanese culture is different and promotes dependence

• This suggests sensitivity has opposite objectives in the two cultures

Continuity Hypothesis• Brief explanation

• Socially and emotionally competent individuals show secure attachments and can explore & regulate one’s own emotions

• In Japan competence is opposite – inhibition of emotions and group dependent and focused rather than self-orientated

Secure Base• Brief explanation please....

• Providing infant with base to explore and become more independent

• Attachment relationships in Japan are dependence-oriented (‘amae – depend on another's love). Behaviours seen typical of amae relationships are classified as insecure ambivalent (Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg)

Nation VS Culture• Behaviour of Japanese mothers and

infants – is this an unfair generalisation?

• There are many different subcultures in Japan which all have different childcare practices– Tokyo (urban) had similar attachment

types to US whereas more rural sample found increased insecure-resistant infants

Variations within Cultures

• Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg found more variation within cultures than between

• Their explanation....– Some studies included middle class families whilst

others involved working class and used different subcultures in countries.

• It is a mistake to think behaviour within one country is representative of a homogenous culture. Therefore...– ....great caution should be made in generalising

individual sample!

Cultural Similarities• Similarities across cross-cultures may be

due to the mass media (?)

• This spreads the idea of Western childcare practices and therefore cultures are exposed to similar influences.

• This provides criticism though forinnateness and instead due to increasing global culture (nurture!)

Cross cultural research• What issues could their be with conducting

research in another culture?– Identifying with a different culture (individualistic

v collectivist)– Understanding a different language or dialect

– Techniques used to identify attachment – strange situation (based on western culture AND attachment types) callled imposed etic

VS.

Summing it up• Make sure your worksheets are stuck in

your books under today’s title

• Give 3 piece of evidence of how attachment theory is routed in American culture

• Extension:• Select 2 problems with cross cultural

research and use these to criticise conclusions on research on attachment and cultures