Machiavellianism and mentalization deficits in patients with suicidal behavior

Abstract

In the article is analyzed the set of researches, which explore the problem of connection between Machiavellianism (as an indicator of manipulative behavior) and meta-cognitive deficits. Disturbances in the ability to understand mental states of self and other people is considered to be a factor which contribute to development and stabilization of manipulative behavior. In this research the concept of mentalizaion is used, and its deficits can be interpreted as two poles of Significant others’ representation style: concrete and pseudoabstract. Based on the theoretical analysis of the problem. We suppose that in group of patients with suicidal behavior deficits of mentalization would be more severe than in control group and have different structure and functions in comparison with normal people. The results confirm that mentalization deficits are more typical for the patients with suicidal behavior, but individuals high in Machiavellianism in both groups tend to have concrete pattern of mentalization.