Script-like attachment representations: Steps towards a secure base for further research

Abstract

The secure base script method assesses the extent to which attachment relevant narratives reflect access to a secure base script. The reliability and (convergent, predictive) validity of the secure base script measure has been documented in the convergent findings of the various cross-national studies reported in this issue. The instrument’s easy administration and coding system promises larger studies focusing on psychometric and substantive questions following from the current set of studies. More specifically, future research with the secure base script may concern its incremental validity, explore scripts of so-called ‘earned secure adults’, and test the association between scriptedness and (disorganized) attachment in the Strange Situation Procedure.

Keywords:

• Adult attachment representation
• script
• parenting
• sensitivity
• validity

Acknowledgment

Support from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (VIDI grant number 452-04-306) is gratefully acknowledged. I would like to thank Marinus H. van IJzendoorn for valuable discussions and feedback.