Assessment of Secure Base Script in Preschool Children

Sait Uluç, Ferhunde Öktem
2009; 24(63):69-83

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Attachment Theory, co-developed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, focuses on the effects of the relationship between a primary care giver and a child in the course of a child’s development (Ainsworth & Bowlby, 1991; Bowlby, 1969). In the frame of Attachment Theory, it is assumed that there is a strong relationship between the mental representation of Attachment and the Working Model of Self. Secure Base Script approach, that is relatively new and reliable method, was produced for evaluating mental representation of attachment. This study examines the relation between Secure Base Scripts and Working Model of Self in a sample of 60 preschool children that contain 33 boys and 27 girls. As assessment instruments, Doll Family Story Completion Test-TR (DFSCT-TR) and Puppet Interview (PI) which is a semi-structural interview were utilized. Results indicated that mental representation of the Self in the preschool children occurs at the relational content and it’s closely related to Working Model of Attachment that they have. In addition, effects of the Working Model of Attachment are observed at the behavioral level. Results indicated that it may have significant influences on peers relationship and behavioral control.

Keywords: Preschool, secure base scripts, self