Mentalization

  • Mentalization is the way we understand our emotions and thoughts.
  • It’s also the way we understand other people’s emotions and thoughts.
  • The creation of these templates begins very early in life.
  • These templates rely heavily on the interaction between parent and child.
  • This is because the child is highly attuned to the caregiver.
  • The child is constantly gathering information about themselves, the caregiver, and the world.
  • This information is the lense in which the process experiences.

Examples

  • Jack, Jen’s nephew (14:24)
  • The felt experience of mentalizing (30:23)
  • Archeologist (35:07)
  • Power of Attention (36:59)
  • Cultural Shock (40:13)

Is Mentalization Conscious? Subconscious? Unconscious?

  • Typically recognized as a conscious process, something that’s very high cortical
  • Mentalization also occurs in the subconscious.
  • The ability to tune into this process varies from person to person, moment to moment
  • Though, regardless whether we’re paying attention to it, mentalization is occuring.

RUAC

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