Lauren Lee L&S Social Sciences
Beyond the Dyad: Rethinking “Insecure” Attachment Across Cultures
Why do some people seem “too distant” in relationships, while others feel “too clingy?” Who decides what levels of intimacy are “secure” as opposed to “insecure?” How might different cultures shape what it means to experience love, depend on others, and express emotion?
Attachment theory is traditionally framed as the bond between early caregivers and children that shapes relationships across the lifespan, often assuming that these patterns are universal. I challenge this assumption sociologically by asking: How do collectivist and individualist contexts shape individual experiences of attachment, if at all?
In individualist cultures, independence and vulnerability are seen as signs of a healthy relationship. In contrast, collectivist cultures may value emotional restraint and interdependence as expressions of care and respect. As a result, someone who appears “emotionally closed off” or overly dependent in one context may, in another, be demonstrating attunement or maturity.
In such a diverse world, it is crucial to consider cross-cultural experiences of attachment. With this project, I hope to foster empathy and deeper connection, both essential to our nature as social beings.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you so much UGD Leadership for supporting my project on attachment and culture! Through your support, I have not only been able to pursue a project that is personally meaningful to me, but I have also grown more confident as a scholar and researcher. The SURF experience has encouraged me to further consider research as a potential career path and has given me a firmer sense of the questions and topics I hope to look more deeply into in the future. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I hope to use the skills and knowledge I have gained to foster greater empathy and reduce feelings of isolation across diverse communities.