ABSTRACT

The logic of the Bowlby-Ainsworth perspective accommodates both species-characteristic features as well as context-specific adaptations in child-mother relationships. Bowlby was well aware of the many contextual and cultural variations in child-mother attachment relationships. It is to his credit the insight that commonalties in the way children and mothers interact with each other exist, despite the many differences (Bowlby, 1969/1982). To understand the influence that culture has on attachment, it is important to recognize both that which may be universal across cultures and that which may be specific. Research on these issues is incipient and our understanding from a developmental standpoint is poor. The little research to date has highlighted almost exclusively issues of universality. Less has been done as far as cultural specificity is concerned. One significant problem has been the scarcity of studies designed to test clearly and explicitly stated hypotheses. Theory and research would benefit from testing for universals and/or cultural specifics, but such investigations should be driven by a priori hypotheses stated in advance of data collection.