Cross-cultural differences in reproductive attitudes
Cross-cultural differences in reproductive attitudes

Summary/Abstract: A vast number of studies and recent trends in reproduction show that birth rates have been declining worldwide since the middle of the 20th century. A wide range of scientific fields deal with this problem mostly by establishing different consequences birth rate may have on economic development, culture, traditional beliefs and social values. This article focuses on the role of the inner world of the human being as initiator of different factors, which define reproductive attitudes and behavior: experiences about the self, personality traits and attachment styles. First, the importance of globalization regarding reproduction attitudes and the hypothesis that women empowerment is related to fertility are highlighted. The paper traces the cultural differences regarding reproductive attitudes and in the way human behavior and attachment styles could be considered as predictors for changes in fertility. The article presents a brief picture of personality traits as predictors for fertility success as well as the role of men and women in the decision-making process. Special attention is paid to the reproductive success in Bulgaria as one of the fastest shrinking populations in Europe next to Lithuania.

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