What is the Definition of Reflective Function?
Understanding and Interpreting Behaviour
According to Psychologist Peter Fonagy….
When we understand ourselves or those around us in terms of our needs, feelings, and desires, we use a skill called mentalization. Mentalization helps us imagine what others might think, feel, or desire. We call this their mental state.
Mental states influence how we behave. Reflecting on the mental states of ourselves and others can help us understand why we behave the way we do.
Reflective function is connected to mentalization. It can be measured to see how well we understand our own thoughts and feelings and the feelings of others.
Parental reflective functioning is when parents can understand their thoughts and feelings and their child’s thoughts and feelings. This helps them understand their own actions and their child’s behavior.
For example, when a young child has a tantrum, reflecting on their mental state can help the parent determine why the child is upset. Perhaps the child is tired from missing their nap time or hungry. Realizing the intention behind the behaviour can help the parent adjust how they respond to the child.
This approach increases sensitivity toward the child and improves parenting quality.
Although we are born with the ability to develop reflective functioning, various factors, such as genes and early childhood experiences, can influence how well this skill develops.
How Reflective Function Supports Parenting
Reflective functioning is an important skill for parents. Studies show that it can help children as they grow and develop.
However, parents experiencing adversity, such as
- Poor mental health
- Addiction
- Financial woes
- Family violence
Understandably, may experience difficulty engaging in reflective functioning.
Here are some ways reflective function supports parenting
- Easier for parents to understand their child’s behaviour
- Helps parents recognize their child’s emotions
- Improves how parents respond to their child
- Increases parenting quality
- Fosters safety and security in the parent-child relationship
- Helps parents reflect on their own mental state
- Helps parents cope with stressful situations
Reflective Function Increases Sensitive and Responsive Caregiving
When parents interpret their child’s behaviour in terms of their child’s mental state, it can increase the parents’ sensitivity toward the child. Parents are more likely to respond thoughtfully to their child rather than react. This can help the parent meet their child’s needs more effectively.
Promoting Healthy Parent-Child Relationships
Reflective functioning helps make the parent-child relationship stronger. When a child feels safe and cared for by their parent, it creates a strong bond. This kind of bond is the healthiest and helps the child grow and develop.
The ATTACH™ Program
When children face challenges early in life, they may be at risk of abuse or neglect. But we believe that parents who understand their own feelings and their child’s feelings can help protect their child from harm.
At ATTACH™, we have a program to help parents in difficult situations get better at understanding their feelings and their child’s feelings. We have done many studies to see how well our program works.
Our findings show that ATTACH™
- Builds reflective functioning skills
- Improves parent-child interaction quality
- Supports the development of a healthy parent-child relationship
- Reduces behavioural problems in children
Contact us here if you would like to learn more about the ATTACH™ program.