Mentalizing School. Could develop the ability to mentalize support the functioning of students, parents, and teachers in the school environment? An attempt to answer the question taking into account reports from international research.

Abstract

Mentalization is a multifaceted cognitive activity that enables individuals to interpret the behaviors of others (and their own) in terms of intentional mental states. A person who engages in mentalization is aware that human behavior stems from one's mental state. The capacity for mentalization begins to develop in childhood, primarily through secure relationships with caregivers, but it can be cultivated throughout life, including through functioning in a mentalizing environment, such as a school. This article aims to address the question of whether developing the ability to mentalize can support the functioning of students, parents, and teachers in the school environment. Findings from previous research and interventions conducted in various parts of the world not only provide an affirmative answer to this question but also identify the characteristics of a mentalizing school that caters to the need for future-oriented education.