Building Mentalizing and Empathetic Relationships of Probation Officers with Supervised Persons. A Pilot Study

Introduction: Both mentalization and empathy are forms of social cognition. They allow us to understand what is going on inside another person. Empathy is a kind of "gift" in natural resources, the "glue of humanity" that motivates us to fully respect the experiences and attitudes of other people. Empathic and mentalizing resources can be used in education, therapy, social care, and resocialization. Research Aim: The aim of the article was to determine the level and characteristics of mentalization in a group of probation officers. Exploring this phenomenon is a "blank spot" in this professional group. The empathic orientation of probation officers performing probation measures was also assessed. The results of adult probation officers were compared with a group of social workers. It was examined how the ability and motivation to mentalize oneself and others were related to emotional-cognitive empathy. Research Method: The article will describe the results obtained on the basis of the Mentalization Scale (MentS) by Dimitrijević et al. – in the Polish adaptation by Jańczak. The level of empathy in its global dimension and in the scope of its syndromes reflecting the complexity of the phenomenon were determined with the use of the Questionnaire of Empathic Understanding of Other People developed by Węgliński. Results: No statistically significant correlation was found between the dimensions of mentalization and the features of emotional-cognitive empathy. A high level of mentalization and a low level of general and emotional empathy were noted in the probation officers studied. Conclusion: Obtained results suggest the need of future exploration aimed at using them in the resocialization.