AQA (A) Key study: Cross-cultural variations

Grossmann and Grossmann (1991) Study of attachment in Germany

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the strange situation can be used in a different cultural context and whether similar attachment types exist in a different culture. The study also explored the relationship proposed by Ainsworth between maternal sensitivity and attachment type.

Procedures

This was a longitudinal study following 49 “normal” German families over a period of time using controlled observation (the strange situation) and naturalistic observation (observing the children and their parents),

Findings

More of the infants were insecurely attached (anxious and avoidant) than securely attached.

Maternal sensitivity was positively related to secure attachment.

There was high stability in attachment over a ten year period with 80% of the children classified as the same.

Early attachment experiences with mothers showed a stronger influence on the child’s socio-emotional development than attachment to fathers.

Children who were securely attached to their mothers as infants enjoyed close friendships later in childhood. Those children who were avoidant or anxious reported having few or no friends.

Conclusions

The findings suggest there are important cross cultural similarities (maternal responsiveness) but also there are important differences in attachment.  The different distribution of attachment types, compared to Ainsworth and Bell’s findings suggest secure attachment is not always optimal. In other cultures other attachment types are associated with preferred outcomes.

Criticisms

It may not be appropriate to use the strange situation in a culture other than the one it was designed for. German culture requires keeping some interpersonal distance between parents and children, therefore the norm would be for infants who appear to be securely attached within the strange situation classification scheme. The scheme does not have the same meaning in Germany.

The study provides a useful cross cultural perspective for interpreting studies of attachment in the US and Britain. It shows that there are many similarities, which suggests that some aspects of attachment and parent-child relationships may be universal. Others are related to the child rearing methods of a specific culture.