Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Abstract: In attachment research, there has been some debate about whether the hypotheses of attachment theory concerning infant secure-base behavior, maternal sensitivity and the future competence of secure and insecure infants are culturally accurate (Carlson & Harwood, 2003; Harwood, 2006; Rothbaum, Weisz, Pott, Miyake, & Morelli, 2000). Proponents of attachment theory claim that maternal care that is sensitive and responsive to the needs of the infant promotes secure-base (i.e., proximity-seeking or exploratory) behaviors resulting in secure parent-infant attachment and lifelong benefits (Carlson & Harwood; Rothbaum et al.). However, culturally appropriate parent and infant behaviors in different ethnic contexts may not correspond to these hypotheses that are based on Euro-Western principles and assessments. In addition, classifications of attachment types may not describe or represent the distributions of secure or insecure infants in all contexts. It was concluded through a literature review of 20 published studies (1988 to 2008) that attachment theory is essentially universal with culturally specific expressions of infant and maternal behaviors related to specific societal values and beliefs. More research is needed to determine the validity of the attachment hypotheses in diverse cultures.
Author: Yvonne Elizabeth McKenna
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2586980411