Mentalization: Theoretical Considerations, Research Findings, and Clinical Implications

by Busch; Fredric N.

• ISBN13: 9780881634846
• ISBN10: 0881634840
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-02-25
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Mentalization is the capacity to perceive and interpret behavior in terms of intentional mental states, to imagine what others are thinking and feeling, and is a concept that has taken the psychological and psychoanalytic worlds by storm. This collection of papers, carefully edited by Fredric Busch, clarifies its import as an essential perspective for understanding the human psyche and interpersonal relationships. The book is divided into theoretical, research and clinical papers, reflecting how the investigators thoughtfully and purposefully pursued each of these goals. Those involved in identifying mentalization have also made consistent efforts to measure and research the concept. Thus, in addition to expanding the theoretical bases and implications of mentalization and identifying clinically useful applications, the authors describe research that scientifically grounds the concept. Mentalization addresses and expands upon a number of implications of mentalization. These include: What are the broaderimplications for mentalization with regard to social and evolutionary development? How does mentalization interdigitate with other psychoanalytic models? How is mentalization systematically assessed? What clinical correlates have been found? How do we understand variations in the capacity for mentalization, even within a given individual? What are the applications of mentalization in the clinical arena, including specific disorders? Readers of this volume will find their clinical work to be more productive and their view of the human psyche broadened.

Table of Contents

Prologue
Theory
The Mentalization-Focused Approach to Social Development	p. 3
The Development of the Unreflective Self	p. 57
Contemporary Approaches to Mentalization in the Light of Freud's Project	p. 103
Research
On the Origins of Reflective Functioning	p. 133
An Object Relations Treatment of Borderline Patients With Reflective Functioning as the Mechanism of Change	p. 159
Clinical
Reflective Functioning in Panic Disorder Patients: Clinical Observations and Research Design	p. 185
Working with Parents in Child Psychotherapy: Engaging the Reflective Function	p. 207
Discussion	p. 235
Commentary	p. 261
Author Index	p. 281
Subject Index	p. 289
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