The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of art therapy on attachment
security and social ability of insecurely attached children. Linking attachment theory to art
therapy, this research hypothesized that children reenact and have the opportunity to repair
their attachment style in art therapy through the art materials and their artistic process.
38 sessions of art therapy were provided for a insecure avoidant attachment child and 25
sessions for a insecure resistant/ambivalent attachment. The results were analyzed both
qualitatively and quantitatively. For qualitative analysis, case vignettes approach was applied
for 38 or 25 sessions of art therapy. And Bird's Nest Drawing was administered before,
after, and one month delay. For quantitative analysis, Randolph Attachment Disorder
Questionnaire and sociality and social problem scales of Korean Child Behavior Checklist
(K-CBCL) were administered after treatment. They shoued secure bases of atachment and
improvement of social abilities.
These findings were discussed within the theoretical framework of attachment theory and
art therapy theory. It was suggested that further research should consider other styles of
insecure attachment.
Key Words : Insecurely attached children, Attachment Security, Social Ability.