Culture and Attachment Perceptions of the Child in Context [Paperback]

Examining attachment from the perspective of culture, and evaluating two different cultures from the vantage point of mothers' perceptions of attachment behavior, this book provides a unique view of desirable child behavior and long-term socialization goals among Anglo and Puerto Rican mothers of infants and toddlers. The authors integrate in-depth interviews with quantitative methods to shed light on variations both between cultures and among different socioeconomic groups within each culture, while at the same time delineating coherent conceptual frameworks that can be used to guide future research.

[This volume] provides a thoughtful and original consideration of research on cultural differences in mothers' goals for their toddlers' competent interpersonal relations, especially in terms of mother-child relations. It gives a valuable overview of theoretical approaches to culture and psychology as well as to the empirical literature on culture and attachment. In addition, it offers important data and analysis of cultural views emphasizing development of individuation and relatedness for Anglo-American mothers and emphasizing becoming involved and responsible participants in the community for Puerto Rican mothers, of varying social classes. The bottom line is that mothers' interpretation of toddlers' behavior and goals for their children's social relations involve anticipation of what is required for success in their own community. --Barbara Rogoff, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz

The authors address the very important issue, `How is the attachment relationship both universal and culturally shaped?' They provide an important perspective and data to support the understudied idea that the early relationship between parent and infant shows both similarities and differences due to cultural variations. The uniqueness of this volume is the authors' message that attachment behaviors provide a rich perspectivlãt