DIMENSIONS OF MENTALISATION - OUTLINING LEVELS OF PSYCHIC TRANSFORMATION

The authors of this paper use the term 'mentalisation' as a supra-ordi nate concept that encompasses processes of representation, symbolisati on and abstraction. Mentalisation is defined as a preconscious or ego function that transforms basic somatic sensations and motor patterns t hrough a linking activity (Freud's notion of Bindung). This binding pr oceeds from initial associations of somatic/motoric substrata with men tal representations, on to the multiplication and organisation of thes e representations, thus allowing the emergence of mental contents and structures of higher levels of complexity (symbolism and abstraction). inspired by the contributions of Marty, Luquet and Bion, the authors propose a conceptual model of formal levels of mental elaboration. Men talisation is defined as consisting of two theoretically separate and independent dimensions. Each presents levels of a hypothesised and gra dually increasing mental elaboration. The first dimension considers di fferent channels of drive-affect expression: somatic and motor activit y, imagery and verbalisation. The second specifies five descriptive le vels of affect tolerance and abstraction: disruptive impulsion (acting out), modulated impulsion (catharsis), externalisation, appropriation and abstract-reflexive meaning association. A clinical case illustrat es how the two dimensions may influence listening and interpreting. So me metapsychological aspects of the process of mentalisation are discu ssed.