Mentalisation
Mentalisation refers to the process of understanding one's own and others' behavior in terms of underlying mental states, such as feelings, beliefs, intentions, and desires. It is a form of imagining what is going on in another person's mind and also in one's own mind. This capacity allows individuals to make sense of their experiences and relationships, facilitating social interaction and emotional regulation. The concept originated within psychoanalytic theory, notably developed by Peter Fonagy and his colleagues.
A key aspect of mentalisation is the ability to distinguish between internal mental states and external reality.
The development of mentalisation is thought to be heavily influenced by early caregiver-child interactions. When caregivers