Jurist, Arietta Slade, and Sharone Bergner (City U. of New York) have edited this follow-up to Peter Fonagy's Affect Regulation, Mentalization, and the Development of the Self to examine the bond between neuroscience and clinical practice. The concept of mentalization is discussed in depth, since controversy about its ultimate worth continues in the world of psychotherapy. Written for clinical psychologists, neuroscientists and researchers in this field, this book advances the idea that collaboration among these disciplines is essential to the development of mentalization. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
This volume, based upon a conference held at the City University of New York in September 2005, brings together leading researchers and thinkers such as Peter Fonagy, Mary Target, Otto Kernberg, Glen Gabbard, Sidney Blatt, Donnel Stern, and Philip Bromberg. From diverse contemporary psychoanalytic perspectives, the authors consider the concept of mentalization and its operationalized version, reflective function, which Peter Fonagy and his colleagues have introduced over the past fifteen years. They explore the relation between these concepts and established psychoanalytic terms, such as representation and internalization, as well as the place of mentalization in psychoanalytic theory. The result is a lively and cutting-edge volume that could become instrumental in defining the future of psychoanalysis. This book will be of interest to a much broader audience as well—developmentalists, cognitive psychologists, neuroscientists, and philosophers—who will find it a fascinating springboard for interdisciplinary collaboration.
