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Attachment, Working Models of Self and Others, and God Concept in Kindergarten
Author(s) -
De Roos Simone A.,
Miedema Siebren,
Iedema Jurjen
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal for the scientific study of religion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1468-5906
pISSN - 0021-8294
DOI - 10.1111/0021-8294.00080
Subject(s) - closeness , psychology , harmony (color) , association (psychology) , developmental psychology , social psychology , representation (politics) , attachment theory , mathematics , psychotherapist , visual arts , art , mathematical analysis , politics , political science , law
An attachment theoretical model of individual differences in God concepts among kindergarteners was tested. Subjects were 72 kindergarteners (mean age 63 months) from two elementary schools. Children’s concepts of self, other, and God were measured using structured questionnaires. A questionnaire and an incomplete doll story procedure were used to tap the quality of the teacher‐child and mother‐child relationship. The model was partly supported. Contrary to our expectations, a punishing concept of God was not related to any of the independent variables. However, in line with the model, harmony and closeness in the teacher‐child relationship predicted a loving God concept and this association was explained by children’s working models of self. Working models of others predicted a loving God concept. Although the child’s representation of the mother‐child attachment relationship was significantly connected to the teacher‐child relationship, it was not predictive of the concept of God.