The Origins of Mentalising & Implications for Attachment, Personality & Psychotherapy - Part 1

Canada · CEU points & talks · Psychologists

In this first talk of a three-part series, participants are introduced to the foundational concepts of mentalising—the ability to understand one’s own and others’ mental states—and how it emerges in early development. This talk offers an in-depth exploration of how mentalising capacity is established in the context of secure versus insecure attachment, and how disruptions in this process are linked to the emergence of personality disorders and impaired emotional functioning.

The talk outlines the developmental origins of three core psychological capacities that underpin an integrated personality:

• Mentalising (reflective function)

• Affect regulation

• Attention and impulse control

These capacities are discussed through the lens of early attachment relationships, particularly the infant-caregiver dyad. The theoretical framework draws on key thinkers in psychoanalytic and attachment theory, including John Bowlby, Donald Winnicott, Wilfred Bion, and contemporary leaders in the field of mentalization, Anthony Bateman and Peter Fonagy.

This talk provides a rich theoretical grounding for psychologists, psychotherapists, and mental health professionals interested in deepening their understanding of developmental psychopathology and therapeutic approaches that enhance reflective functioning.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:

• Define the concept of mentalising and its relevance to psychological health

• Describe how secure and insecure attachments influence the development of mentalising capacity

• Explain the interplay between mentalising, affect regulation, and impulse control in the formation of personality

• Identify key theoretical contributions from Bowlby, Winnicott, Bion, Bateman, and Fonagy

• Recognise early developmental pathways associated with personality disorders and impaired reflective function

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