Cultural Variations in Attachment
Studies of cultural variations
Key study: Van IJzendoorn
Marinus Van IJzendoorn and Pieter Kroonenberg (1988) conducted a study to look at the
proportions of secure, insecure-avoidant and insecure-resistant attachments across a
range of countries. They also looked at the differences within the same countries to get an
idea of variations within a culture.
Procedures
The researchers located 32 studies of attachment where the Strange Situation had
been used to investigate the proportions of infants with different attachment types.
These 32 studies were conducted in 8 countries; 15 were in the USA. Overall, the 32
studies yielded results for the 1,990 children. The data for these 32 studies were
meta-analysed, results being combined and weighted for sample size.
Findings
The findings are shown in the table. There was a wide variation between the
proportions of attachment types in different studies. In all countries secure
attachment was the most common classification. However, the proportion varied
75% in Britain to 50% in China. Insecure-resistant was overall the least common type
although the proportions ranged from 3% in Britain to around 30% in Israel.
Insecure-avoidant attachments were observed most commonly in Germany and least
commonly in Japan.
An interesting finding was that variations between results of studies within the same
country were actually 150% greater than those between countries. In the USA, for
example, one study found only 46% securely attached compared to one sample as
high as 90%.
, Other studies of cultural variations
An Italian Study
Simonella et al. (2014) conducted a story in Italy to see whether the proportions of
babies of different attachment types still matches those found in previous studies.
The researchers assessed 76 12-month-olds using the Strange Situation. They found
50% were secure, with 36% insecure-avoidant. This is a lower rate of secure
attachment that has been found in many studies. The researchers suggest this is
because increasing numbers of mother of very young children work long hours and
use professional childcare.
These findings suggest that cultural changes can make a dramatic difference to
patterns of secure and insecure attachment.
A Korean Study
Jin et al (2012) conducted a study to compare the proportions of attachment types in
Korea to other studies. The Strange Situation was used to assess 87 children.
The overall proportions of insecure and secure babies were very similar to those in
most countries, with most infants being secure. However, more of those classified as
insecurely attached were resistant and only one child was avoidant. This distribution
is similar to the distribution of attachment types found in Japan (Van IJzendoorn and
Kroonberg 1988).
Since Japan and Korea have quite similar child-rearing styles this similarity might be
explained in terms of child-rearing style.
Conclusions
Secure attachment seems to be the norm in a wide range of cultures, supporting
Bowlby’s idea that attachment is innate and universal, and this type is the universal
norm.
However, the research also clearly shows that cultural practices have an influence on
attachment type.
Key Terms
Cultural Variations – ‘Culture’ refers to the norms and values that exist within any
group of people. Cultural variations then are the different norms and values that
exist between people in different groups. In attachment research we are concerned
with the differences in the proportion of children of different attachment types.
Studies of cultural variations
Key study: Van IJzendoorn
Marinus Van IJzendoorn and Pieter Kroonenberg (1988) conducted a study to look at the
proportions of secure, insecure-avoidant and insecure-resistant attachments across a
range of countries. They also looked at the differences within the same countries to get an
idea of variations within a culture.
Procedures
The researchers located 32 studies of attachment where the Strange Situation had
been used to investigate the proportions of infants with different attachment types.
These 32 studies were conducted in 8 countries; 15 were in the USA. Overall, the 32
studies yielded results for the 1,990 children. The data for these 32 studies were
meta-analysed, results being combined and weighted for sample size.
Findings
The findings are shown in the table. There was a wide variation between the
proportions of attachment types in different studies. In all countries secure
attachment was the most common classification. However, the proportion varied
75% in Britain to 50% in China. Insecure-resistant was overall the least common type
although the proportions ranged from 3% in Britain to around 30% in Israel.
Insecure-avoidant attachments were observed most commonly in Germany and least
commonly in Japan.
An interesting finding was that variations between results of studies within the same
country were actually 150% greater than those between countries. In the USA, for
example, one study found only 46% securely attached compared to one sample as
high as 90%.
, Other studies of cultural variations
An Italian Study
Simonella et al. (2014) conducted a story in Italy to see whether the proportions of
babies of different attachment types still matches those found in previous studies.
The researchers assessed 76 12-month-olds using the Strange Situation. They found
50% were secure, with 36% insecure-avoidant. This is a lower rate of secure
attachment that has been found in many studies. The researchers suggest this is
because increasing numbers of mother of very young children work long hours and
use professional childcare.
These findings suggest that cultural changes can make a dramatic difference to
patterns of secure and insecure attachment.
A Korean Study
Jin et al (2012) conducted a study to compare the proportions of attachment types in
Korea to other studies. The Strange Situation was used to assess 87 children.
The overall proportions of insecure and secure babies were very similar to those in
most countries, with most infants being secure. However, more of those classified as
insecurely attached were resistant and only one child was avoidant. This distribution
is similar to the distribution of attachment types found in Japan (Van IJzendoorn and
Kroonberg 1988).
Since Japan and Korea have quite similar child-rearing styles this similarity might be
explained in terms of child-rearing style.
Conclusions
Secure attachment seems to be the norm in a wide range of cultures, supporting
Bowlby’s idea that attachment is innate and universal, and this type is the universal
norm.
However, the research also clearly shows that cultural practices have an influence on
attachment type.
Key Terms
Cultural Variations – ‘Culture’ refers to the norms and values that exist within any
group of people. Cultural variations then are the different norms and values that
exist between people in different groups. In attachment research we are concerned
with the differences in the proportion of children of different attachment types.
