Epistemic Mistrust: A Crucial Aspect of Mentalization in People with a History of Abuse?. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Knox, Jean
• Is Part Of: British journal of psychotherapy. Volume 32:Number 2(2016:May)
• Page Start: 226
• Page End: 236
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: epistemic trust -- implicit mentalizing -- internal working model -- marking -- representational redescription -- psychotherapy -- sexual abuse; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Psychothérapie -- Périodiques; 616.8914
• DOI: 10.1111/bjp.12212
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-9883

Abstract

Abstract : I explore the development of implicit mentalizing, its roots in internal working models of early attachment relationships and how these contribute to the emergence of epistemic trust. I discuss the respective contributions of caregiver sensitivity and congruent 'marking' to the development of secure attachment and epistemic trust. I discuss the ways in which early relational trauma and sexual abuse directly contribute to the emergence of epistemic mistrust and the implications of this for the role of mentalizing in psychotherapy.