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The idea that we know something best when we know it from its beginning has a long history in philosophy and the natural sciences. For Aristotle, to know something is to have its archae (άρχή), its origin, its foundations, ever in mind. In psychology, this entails describing the course of development in detail and also identifying plausible mechanisms of action and developmental change. This chapter focuses on the roles of script-like representations of secure base experience in attachment behavior and development. Scripts are not the only mode of mental representation in play during attachment interactions and development, but they illustrate the descriptive and explanatory roles ordinary (as opposed to attachment-specific) cognitive processes can play in attachment theory and research.

Freud’s emphasis on the enduring influence of early experience was one of the distinctive features of his theory. John Bowlby considered this an important insight with great significance for both prevention and adult psychotherapy. In his view, the origins of attachment lie in countless experiences of using the primary caregiver as a secure base from which to explore and as a haven of safety. These experiences lead to expectations about caregiver availability and responsiveness and eventually to internal working models (IWMs), which, in turn, help guide behavior and emotion, and help simulate possible courses of action in close relationships. While acknowledging the heuristic value of the IWM concept, Hinde (1989) felt compelled to note that “in the very power of such a model lies