ABSTRACT
John Bowlby`s thinking was based in the model of a Western middle class family. The plurality of family models that exist across cultures was largely ignored. Even Mary Ainsworth’ s early observational research in Uganda did not lead to a more inclusive view of family models and structures. More over the Western middle – class model is regarded as normative and the best way of raising children to competent adults. In this chapter, the major explicit and implicit assumptions are identified. The Western middle - class perspective is contrasted with other cultural views, especially traditionally living farmers, where knowledge from cultural anthropologists and psychologists is available.
