Assessing secure base behavior in adulthood: development of a measure, links to adult attachment representations, and relations to couples' communication and reports of relationships.
A focus on the secure base phenomenon creates a framework for exploring the function of the attachment system in adulthood. Engaged couples (N = 157) were videotaped in a problem-solving interaction and assessed using the Secure Base Scoring System (SBSS), a system based on Ainsworth's analyses of infant-parent secure base use and support. Study 1 showed behavior was significantly related to representations assessed with the Adult Attachment Interview (M. Main & R. Goldwyn, 1994). In Study 2, the interactions were independently scored with the Rapid Marital Interaction Coding System (RMICS; R. E. Heyman & D. Vivian, 1993), a communication-based system. The SBSS predicted relationship variables beyond the RMICS, especially for women. Results indicate that the secure base phenomenon provides a cogent perspective on adult attachment behavior.
Crowell
Judith A
JA
Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 11794, USA. jcrowell@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Treboux
Dominique
D
Gao
Yuan
Y
Fyffe
Celene
C
Pan
Helen
H
Waters
Everett
E
D000328:Adult; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D009769:Object Attachment; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011340:Problem Solving; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic