The concept of coherence in attachment interviews: comparing attachment experts, linguists, and non-experts

Coherence is a central construct in attachment interviews. Nevertheless, the concept has never been the main focus of a study in the attachment field. The present study examined whether coherence in attachment interviews is defined differently by experts trained in attachment theory, by linguists, and by non-experts. The 72-item Coherence Q-sort (CQS) was used to determine the profile of a prototypical coherent interview. Results indicated that attachment experts could be reliably distinguished from the (combined) other groups: attachment experts emphasized quality and manner more than all other groups, linguists emphasized quantity and relevance more than attachment experts, and higher educated non-experts valued relevance more than attachment experts. Defining coherence in attachment interviews is thus more than just applying Grice's linguistic maxims; expertise in attachment theory is critical for defining interview coherence. Consequences for the coding of the AAI by non-attachment experts, as well as computer coding (im)possibilities are discussed.