The Indirect Effect of Mentalized Affectivity on the Relationship Between Perceived Narcissism in Others and View of Oneself

Mentalized affectivity, a component of mentalization, is a more complex form of emotion regulation which requires self-reflection and looking at current experiences through the lens of one’s past experiences. It consists of three components of emotional experience: identifying, processing, and expressing. Healthy levels of mentalized affectivity can act as a protective buffer from adverse experiences and psychological distress. Therefore, without this system functioning properly, it may leave one vulnerable to psychological distress, especially when exposed to dysfunctional relationships such as those in relationships where one is perceived to have narcissism. The present study investigates how the capacity for mentalized affectivity might mediate the potential impact of relationships with perceptions of narcissism, both grandiose and vulnerable, on individual levels of self-criticism and fear of happiness. Participants (N = 297; 69.4% female) completed measures of perceptions of narcissism in others, and self-criticism, fears of happiness, and mentalized affectivity in themselves. Parallel mediation analysis reveals patterns of indirect effects of mentalized affectivity, suggesting unfavorable outcomes if systems are not in place to protect against these harmful relationships. Mentalized-based treatment may help bring awareness to the importance of these functions, stabilize mentalized affectivity abilities, and mitigate these experiences for such individuals.