Parental reflective functioning: An introduction

Slade, Arietta

doi:10.1080/14616730500245906

Cited by 1,209Attachment and Relationship DynamicsPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology ResearchChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Parental reflective functioning: An introduction

Slade, Arietta·2005·Attachment & Human Development

DOI 10.1080/14616730500245906

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Abstract

Reflective functioning refers to the essential human capacity to understand behavior in light of underlying mental states and intentions. The construct, introduced by Fonagy, Steele, Steele, Moran, and Higgitt in 1991 Fonagy, P., Steele, M., Moran, G., Steele, H. and Higgitt, A. 1991. The capacity for understanding mental states: The reflective self in parent and child and its significance for security of attachment. Infant Mental Health Journal, 13: 200–216. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar], and elaborated by Fonagy and his colleagues over the course of the next decade, has had an enormous impact on developmental theory and clinical practice. This paper introduces the construct of parental reflective functioning, which refers to the parent's capacity to hold the child's mental states in mind, and begins with a review of Fonagy and his colleagues' essential ideas regarding the reflective function. Next, the applicability of this construct to parental representations of the child and the parent – child relationship is considered. A system for coding parental reflective functioning, which will serve as the organizing framework for this special issue, is described. Finally, the three papers that make up this special section are introduced.

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A parent's ability to reflect on their child's mental states has been linked with the development of the child's sense of self.
“and to the development of the child’s sense of self [77].”
From Optimizing parenting and child outcomes following parent–child interaction therapy – toddler: a randomized controlled trial (2024) · cites this paper as [77]
A different result may have been obtained had an interview-based assessment been utilised, e.g., Parent Development Interview or Caregiving Interview.
“and a different result may have been obtained had an interview-based assessment been utilised, e.g., Parent Development Interview [78] or Caregiving Interview [34].”
From Optimizing parenting and child outcomes following parent–child interaction therapy – toddler: a randomized controlled trial (2024) · cites this paper as [78]

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Authors: Slade, A.
Affiliations: City University of New York (US)
Corresponding author: Slade, Arietta
ORCID: Slade, Arietta
Venue: Attachment & Human Development
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2005-09
Volume: 7
Issue: 3
Pages: 269-281
ISSN: 1461-6734 (ISSN-L)
1469-2988
DOI: 10.1080/14616730500245906
OpenAlex: W2164828715
Cited by: 1,209
References: 28
Citations by year: 2026: 95 · 2025: 78 · 2024: 82 · 2023: 130 · 2022: 91 · 2021: 89 · 2020: 106 · 2019: 58 · 2018: 71 · 2017: 55 · 2016: 69 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 37 · 2013: 45 · 2012: 38
FWCI: 16.06
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Attachment & Human Development (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords: parental reflective functioning, reflective functioning, theory of mind, parent-child relationship, parental representations, attachment security, coding system, developmental theory, clinical practice
MeSH terms: Child, Humans, Interview, Psychological, Mental Processes, Object Attachment, Parent-Child Relations, Research, Parenting

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Parental reflective functioning: An introduction

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