[Facets of diagnostics of mentalization in children]

Abstract

Clinical relevance of variations within the ability to mentalize is usually reported in the field of psychopathology in adults. This might be due to difficulties in methods for empirical assessment of this capacity in children. In this short report the author discusses facets and abilities of how to engage the inner world of young children with story stem techniques and especially how to register variations in the ability to mentalize. Ideas for assessment in early childhood are presented and illustrated along two clinical vignettes. This paper gives a short impression of clinical diagnostics of mentalization in childhood.

Keywords: Bindung; Geschichtenergänzungsverfahren; Mentalisierung; Theory of Mind; attachment; early childhood; frühe Kindheit; mentalization; story stem technique; theory of mind.