Cultural Perspectives on Counseling and Therapy

Abstract

This paper briefly characterizes two conceptions of child development, attachment theory and psychobiological approaches. Both share commonalities (e. g. focusing on infancy; relying on ethological approaches; studying parent - child regulations). They also show marked differences, e. g. in methodology and moral evaluations. However, both approaches are based on the same implicit, taken for granted assumptions that are outlined with respect to cultural differences. Particularly caregiving networks and interaction strategies can be distinctly different in different cultural environments. Two socialization strategies with different values and practices of child development are introduced. Western middle-class families and traditional rural farmers in non-Western countries are selected because information is available in a research landscape where participants from non-Western middle class are rare. They can be regarded as embodying different cultural models with different emphases on autonomy and relatedness. Finally, implications for the clinical practice are discussed.