Lack of Mentalization in BPD | PETER FONAGY

Mentalization is an ordinary human capacity to interpret actions through the lens of underlying thoughts, feelings, and motivations, yet its absence defines the profound struggle of individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). In the context of intense attachment, those with BPD often lose the ability to reliably monitor their own internal states, which simultaneously impairs their capacity to accurately judge the emotions of others. This deficit transforms fleeting thoughts into absolute certainties; for instance, a minor facial movement like a raised eyebrow can be interpreted not as a passing signal to be questioned, but as definitive proof of rejection or dislike. Because observers take the "ordinary" process of mentalizing for granted, they often fail to recognize the isolation and devastating conviction of being unloved that these individuals experience when they lose the ability to navigate the language of the mind.