Date of Award

Spring 5-2017

Document Type

Master's Project

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

EVMS School of Health Professions

Committee Director

Sarah Deaver

Committee Member

Maureen Kelleher

Abstract

Attachment patterns in childhood have implications throughout an individual’s life. Relationship quality with the primary caregiver is said to influence how people interact with others and the world. Studies by prolific researchers such as John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth set the stage for continued research on attachment theory, and thus have lead others into investigating this most heavily researched subject in psychology. Attachment patterns have been identified through several assessments. Art therapy assessments may prove to be useful in differentiating patterns of attachment via graphic indicators present in drawings. The Bird’s Nest Drawing, developed by Kaiser (1996), is such an assessment. The current study sought to replicate Kaiser’s 1996 pilot study with fathers ages 21-39 in order to strengthen the validity of the Bird’s Nest Drawing and to compare and contrast the results from mothers and fathers. Three fathers between the ages of 21-39 volunteered for the study and provided drawings and stories, and completed the Attachment to Mother Scale. All of the drawings were scored and examined for congruency between BNDs, stories, and ATM scores. Results indicated incongruence between BNDs and ATM scores. Implications for further research include addressing the limitations in the current study, as well as further additions to the research on art therapy assessments and attachment theory.

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