The secure base script concept: an overview

Research suggests that, among other things, attachment representations take the form of a cognitive script. Evidence in support of this perspective suggests that this ‘secure base script’ is learned in the context of early caregiving experiences, stable across time and context in adulthood, and a guide for adult attachment behavior. However, in a field as mature as adult attachment, newer constructs such as secure base script must address the ‘old wine in a new bottle’ critique. This article presents a brief overview of the extant literature on the secure base script and concludes by framing these findings in the larger context of adult attachment research aimed at addressing this critique.