Imbalanced Self–Other Mentalizing as a Marker of Psychopathology: Transdiagnostic Associations in Clinical and Community Samples

Abstract Mentalizing is a multidimensional capacity, and imbalance between self- and other-focused components may represent a transdiagnostic vulnerability to psychopathology. Across two studies, we used a person-centered clustering approach to identify profiles based on self-mentalizing, other-mentalizing, and motivation to mentalize, and examined their associations with personality functioning, maladaptive personality traits, and a broad spectrum of symptoms. Study 1 included community adults (N = 530; 51.5% women, 48.1% men, 0.4% other; M_age = 47.4 years, SD = 12.4, range = 30–97; race/ethnicity: Polish/White European). Two profiles emerged: a relatively balanced profile and a lower, self-imbalanced profile characterized by reduced self-mentalizing and elevated personality dysfunction, depression, and anxiety (η²p = .30). Study 2 included individuals seeking outpatient group psychotherapy (N = 123; 66.7% women, 33.3% men; M_age = 32.7 years, SD = 9.55, range = 18–58; race/ethnicity: Polish/White European). Two imbalanced profiles differing in severity were identified; the more impaired profile showed greater personality dysfunction, narcissistic antagonism, hostile attributions, avoidant attachment, and lower agentic narcissism (η²p = .29). Across both studies, a novel Self–Other Mentalizing Imbalance Index (SOMI) was consistently related to general psychopathology. These findings highlight the transdiagnostic significance of self–other mentalizing imbalance as a potential treatment target.