Cultural Attachment Theory

Abstract Cultural attachment theory addresses the general question of how individuals experience and find security and comfort in different cultures, be it their own native culture and/or other cultures they have extensive exposure to. The theory postulates that the adaptive solution of acculturation is analogous to infants' attachment to their caregivers, whereby forming secure attachment to the native and/or host cultures can help individuals to cope with anxiety and stress and to gain a sense of safe haven. Cultural attachment theory borrows heavily from the classic attachment theory proposed by John Bowlby, which has underscored the role of infant–caregiver relationships in human development from the cradle to the grave. This entry reviews research evidence that shows that similar processes observed in child attachment can be extrapolated to cultural attachment. Implications and future research directions are discussed.