Do Prisoners Mentalize Differently? Investigating Attachment and Reflective Functioning in a Sample of Incarcerated Lebanese Men

Abstract

Insecure attachment and deficits in mentalizing have been consistently found to be correlated with increased delinquency, conduct disorder and antisocial behaviors. This has been explained by a distancing from the other's needs and feelings or by an incapacity to consider the effects of one's behaviors on others. The current study is the first to investigate the association between attachment and mentalizing in a sample of 172 incarcerated Lebanese men, between the ages of 19 and 65, looking for predictors of regret towards the crime committed. Results suggested a significant correlation between insecure attachment and lower mentalizing capacities in our sample. Furthermore, deficits in mentalization, more specifically hypomentalizing strategies, were found to predict a lack of regret towards the crime committed. Findings are discussed within the attachment and mentalization framework, considering cross-cultural influences, guiding future intervention and prevention programs within Lebanese prisons and at-risk groups.

Pathways to antisocial behavior: a framework to improve diagnostics and tailor therapeutic interventions

“…Also, mentalizing abilities (the ability to make inferences about mental states of oneself and others) ( Bateman and Fonagy, 2012 ) seem to vary in the antisocial population. Both hypermentalizing (overattribution of mental states) and hypomentalizing (underattribution of mental states) are found by several researchers ( Dolan and Fullam, 2004 ; Abate et al, 2017 ; Newbury-Helps et al, 2017 ; Abi-Habib et al, 2020 ). Contradictory results are also reported regarding specific personality traits in the antisocial population.…”

“…Individuals vary in strengths and competences with regard to the ability to mentalize. Besides the hypermentalizing modes found in relation with mistrust in the antisocial population, also low (i.e., underdeveloped) mentalizing capacities are recurrently found ( Bateman et al, 2013 ; Newbury-Helps et al, 2017 ; Abi-Habib et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Mentalization is a complex phenomenon and people’s mentalizing skills can be expressed in different areas. Research is often focused on part of these areas, such as emotion recognition, affective resonance or more advanced mentalizing skills such as theory of mind and faux-pas tasks ( Dolan and Fullam, 2004 ; Jones Bartoli et al, 2007 ; Shamay Tsoory et al, 2010 ; Newbury-Helps et al, 2017 ; Gillespie et al, 2018 ; Velotti et al, 2019 ; Abi-Habib et al, 2020 ). Regarding emotion recognition, at least a part of the antisocial population seems to be less able to recognize emotions based on facial expressions.…”

How the Good Lives Model Can Complement Mentalization-Based Treatments for Individuals Who Have Offended With Anti-Social Personality Disorder and General Forensic Mental Health Needs: Practice Update

“…Specific facets of mentalizing ability may therefore be compromised especially under certain conditions and specific circumstances such as threats to self-esteem, rejection, and psychosocial/environmental factors, leaving the individual vulnerable to violent and anti-social behavior (Holmes et al., 2001; Newbury-Helps et al., 2017). A number of studies have demonstrated higher insecure attachment styles with individuals incarcerated for violent crimes diagnosed with ASPD (Abi-Habib et al., 2020; Adshead, 2004; Frodi et al., 2001; Levinson & Fonagy, 2004); however, the exact mechanisms underlying the relationship between early trauma/rejection and the potential for violence are still not well understood (McCrory & Viding, 2015) and not all individuals with ASPD will necessarily have an insecure attachment style. Within this article, ASPD and associated violence will be conceptualized within a mentalizing framework that emphasizes the association between early maladaptive attachment styles (Shonk & Cicchetti, 2001) and behavioral responses to negative interpersonal interactions (Bateman & Fonagy, 2008).…”

Psychometric Properties of the Reflective Function Questionnaire in Iranian Prisoners

“…Burk et al (2011) suggested that since most crimes occur due to poor self-control and lack of empathy, it is feasible that the ability to understand the inner thoughts and feelings of oneself and others could increase prisoners’ ability to control themselves, and their behaviors, thoughts, and emotions (Morosan et al, 2020). Studies have also shown that distancing oneself from the needs and feelings of others or the inability to consider the impact of one’s own behavior on others is highly associated with delinquent behaviors, difficulties in emotional regulation, conduct disorder, and antisocial behaviors (Abi-Habib et al, 2020; Morel & Papouchis, 2015; Protic et al, 2020). In Iran, the number of prisoners increased sevenfold between 1980 and 1997, while the country’s population increased by only 55% during these years (Article, 2017).…”