Mentalization is the ability to reflect on, understand and interpret the conscious and unconscious thoughts, feelings, desires and beliefs of oneself and others, and to predict their behavior on the basis of these. It is the ability to put oneself in another person’s shoes and understand their point of view. Mentalization is strongly linked to social interaction skills and empathy. A person with good mentalization skills has a better understanding of the internal states and processes of their own mind and those of others.
Mentalization theory is a developmental psychological theory that developed from the insights of attachment theory, particularly the work of the British psychiatrist John Bowlby. Bowlby developed attachment theory, which describes the importance of early interactions and attachment relationships for development.
In practice, mentalization means the ability to:
- To interpret and understand the feelings and thoughts of other people. A person is able to mentalize when he or she is able to put himself or herself in the other person’s shoes, recognise the other person’s feelings and understand why the other person behaves and acts in a certain way.
- Distinguish one’s own thoughts and feelings from those of another person. The ability to recognise that the other person may think and experience things differently from oneself is an essential part of mentalizing ability.
- Predicting other people’s behavior. Mentalizing ability helps to predict other people’s behavior and reactions based on their emotions and thoughts.
The development of mentalizing ability begins in early childhood and is an important part of learning healthy interaction and social skills. Good mentalization skills contribute to the development of empathy and compassion and help build healthy and deep relationships. It is particularly relevant, for example, in parent-child relationships, in therapeutic work and in the work of teachers and tutors, where understanding and empathic interaction are essential.
Mentalization in support of tutor work
The tutor’s need for mentalization skills is related to the interaction between tutor and students and the effectiveness of the teaching process. When tutors are able to mentalize, they are better able to assess the understanding and needs of their pupils. This helps the tutor to adapt his/her teaching and provide additional support and guidance to those students who need it.
Good mentalizing skills help teachers and tutors to read students’ non-verbal messages, such as body language and facial expressions, which improves the quality of interaction and the effectiveness of teaching.
It helps the tutor to identify and deal with conflicts or problems in the classroom. The tutor can better identify social relationships between students and provide the necessary support to resolve conflicts.
The development of mentalization skills is important in the work of teachers and counsellors because it contributes to the well-being, learning and overall development of pupils in different learning environments.
Supporting students' mental capacity
Mental ability can also be learned and taught. Teachers and tutors play an important role in the development of mental ability in children and young people.
They can help students to identify and name emotional states and it is also worth discussing these with students. The practice of empathy in all its forms encourages pupils to think about what the other person might be thinking or feeling in a particular situation. Students can also be taught about the importance of body language and facial expressions in interactions and practice reading and interpreting non-verbal communication.
All kinds of games, such as role-playing, help children to put themselves in the other person’s shoes and to practice social situations and interaction skills. The role of the teacher and tutor in setting an example cannot be underestimated. When you yourself interact well and respond to the feelings and needs of your pupils, they receive a good model of mentalization.
In summary, mentalizing skills are important for social skills and psychological well-being. It promotes a better understanding of self and others, which in turn improves learning, interaction and quality of life.
References:
Allen, J. G. and Fonagy, P. (2019). Handbook of Mentalization-Based Treatment. American Psychiatric Association Publishing
Fonagy, P. and Campbell, C. (2016). Attachment theory and mentalization. American Psychological Assiciation
Mentalisaatio perheiden kohtaamisessa (2014) Viinikka Anne (Ed.). Mannerheimin lastensuojeluliitto
Mentalisaatio – Teoriasta käytäntöön (2017) Laitinen Irmeli and Ollikainen Seija (Ed.). Therapeia -säätiö
Mentalization based education, Retrieved June 13, 2024 from https://mented.de/en. MentEd Mentalisierungsbasierte Pädagogig,
Nisponská, M. (2022), Mentalization and its use in schools, Univerzita Karlova