MBTi #6: Attachment and Mentalizing Artwork

Mentalizing and Existence

A podcast about Mentalizing, Attachment, Existentialism, and Psychotherapy. Harvard trained psychiatrist, and psychiatric educator Dr. Daniel Price discusses Mentalizing. This skill--the ability to be mindful of our mind and the minds of others--is the basis of thought, language, culture, society, and most importantly-- meaning. Mentalizing is literally the most important thing, or more precisely process. Period. However, while almost all humans can do it to some degree, it often falters when we need it most. Fortunately, it is a skill we can cultivate, and strengthen--and when we do we can more fully connect with ourselves, and thereby recognize and remain mindful of the meaning of our existence.

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Mentalizing and Existence

MBTi #6: Attachment and Mentalizing

July 30, 2022 • Daniel Price, MD • Season 2 • Episode 6

This episode is the sixth in a series of 12 episodes (Season 2) Introducing Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT). Based on the Chapter 11 of the first edition of Anthony Bateman and Peter Fonagy's Mentalizing Based Treatment for Personality Disorders: A Practical Guide, these podcasts recreate the 12 session introductory, interactive group that serves as the preparatory process for entering formal MBT treatment. All listeners to "M & E "are welcome to listen to all of these episodes, but they are designed for listeners who are about to begin MBT and may be more technical than most "M & E" listeners may prefer.

In this sixth MBTi episode we expand on the notion of Attachment we introduced in Episode 5, and how it relates to Mentalizing. It turns out they are closely linked phenomenon: secure attachment in a child assists in their development of robust mentalizing while good mentalizing on the part of a caregiver is a great predictor of secure attachment in a child. Thus we can see good mentalizing and secure attachment as creating a positive intergenerational cycle. On the other hand, a poor mentalizing culture in a family can lead to insecure attachment for children with consequences for their mentalizing ability as they grow.