Peculiarities of mentalization in patients with schizotypal disorders

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the phenomenon of mentalization, which P.Fonagy understands as emotional sensitivity and cognitive ability to imagine mental states. We have operationalized this concept using the category of affective-cognitive personal style of I—Other relations representation (E.T.Sokolova), which integrates emotional and evaluative characteristics of relationship and cognitive-symbolic processing methods of social interaction within itself. We considered these components using the categories of D.Westen’s model: «complexity of representations of people», «affect-tone of relationship paradigms», «capacity for emotional investment in relationships», «understanding of social causality». Data that was collected using the methods of TAT and conversation have revealed pseudomentalization and concrete understanding in patients with schizotypal disorders, which corresponds with the specific style of I—Other relations representation. The measured cognitive and personality peculiarities (psychological mindedness, tolerance to uncertainty, level of intellectual development and creativity) have showed correlation with components of style and contributed to the reconstruction of a coherent picture of mentalization in normal and pathology.