Script-Like Approach To Study The Mental Representation Of Attachment

H. Waters and colleagues (Waters, Rodrigues, & Ridgeway, 1998) developed a script-like approach to study the mental representations of attachment, particularly to assess secure base representational knowledge. According to script theory, mental representations of events are formed with repeated experiences. For a specific situation, a script describes an appropriate series of events as well as actors, actions, and props needed to reach a goal. A goal can be something simple such as going to bed or going out for dinner (Nelson, 1986; Schank & Abelson, 1977). Other researchers view scripts as cognitive representations of routines or ways that individuals typically approach errands and problems. In sum, scripts provide a cognitive tool for individuals to help them navigate their complex world (Nelson, 1986).

Structural knowledge about objects and their relationships, along with knowledge of the social world, are all integrated in scripts, which increase in complexity as children develop. These scripts tend to reflect the dynamic characteristics of children’s experiences. According to Bretherton (1991), attachment scripts are the cognitive building blocks of attachment representations. Since scripts are derived from shared social experiences, they are expected to demonstrate a high degree of mutuality. Additionally, since scripts may reveal the underlying cognitive structure of representations, they are also expected to be consistent over time. In light of these expectations, H. Waters and colleagues (e.g., Guttmann-Steinmetz, Elliot, Steiner, & Waters, 2003; Waters & Rodriguez, 2001; Waters, Rodrigues, & Ridgeway, 1998; Waters et al., 2000) developed an assessment of attachment representation involving attachment-relevant