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ABSTRACT
In this article, we suggest that the psychological process of mentalization – that of perceiving and interpreting behaviour as conjoined with intentional mental states – might have a key role to play in Stanislavskian rehearsal practice, both in terms of developing relationships in the rehearsal room and in terms of interpreting dramatic characters. We discuss key concepts such as the dimensions of mentalizing, non-mentalizing modes, the mentalizing stance, and epistemic trust, and highlight the potential relevance of these to the work of the acting ensemble. Our aim is to provide practitioners, and especially those charged with leading rehearsal processes, with an introduction to mentalization, allowing them to identify mentalizing problems as they arise and to be proactive in demonstrating and encouraging effective mentalizing within the rehearsal environment.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1. Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, “Mentalizing and Mentalization Based Treatments with Children and Young People”.
2. Stanislavskian acting techniques may be seen as the epitome of a “humanising” approach to dramatic character. That is, they work from the assumption that characters should be interpreted as though they were “real people”, discussing them as mental beings, complete with intentions, desires, motivations and so on. This stands in contrast to the “dehumanising” approaches favoured by many literary critics over the past century. For a discussion of “humanising” and “dehumanising” approaches to literary characters see Culpeper, Language and Characterization, 5–12.
3. Allen, Fonagy & Bateman, Mentalizing in Clinical Practice, 3.
4. Oestergaard Hagelquist, The Mentalization Guidebook, 42.
5. Ibid., 22–24.
6. They are “pre-mentalizing” in the sense that they precede mentalization both in terms of evolution and childhood development. They are necessary building blocks for a mentalizing capacity to develop, but they are not mentalization in the proper sense of the word – hence “non-mentalizing”.
7. Bevington et al, Adaptive Mentalization-Based Integrative Treatment, 50.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid., 51.
10. Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, “Mentalizing and Mentalization Based Treatments with Children and Young People”.
11. Allen, Fonagy & Bateman, Mentalizing in Clinical Practice, 348.
12. Ibid., 183.
13. Ibid., 182.
14. Ibid.
15. Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, “Mentalizing and Mentalization Based Treatments with Children and Young People”.
16. Allen, Fonagy & Bateman, Mentalizing in Clinical Practice, 321.
17. Fonagy et al, “Epistemic Trust, Psychopathology and the Great Psychotherapy Debate”.
18. Bevington et al, Adaptive Mentalization-Based Integrative Treatment, 53.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Benjamin Askew
Benjamin Askew is an acting teacher, writer, and director. He has led the teaching of Theatre Analysis at Drama Centre London for the past six years and is a visiting practitioner at Manchester School of Theatre. He has a decade of experience as a professional actor, having worked in London’s West End and for companies including Shakespeare’s Globe, Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory and Manchester Royal Exchange. He received his doctorate from Central Saint Martins and is the founder and director of the Working Action Group, a creative research community exploring links between contemporary psychology and psychophysical theatre practice.
Holly Dwyer Hall
Holly Dwyer Hall is a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, Dramatherapist and accredited Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT) Practitioner with Adults, Adolescents and Families and supervisor and trainer in MBT with adolescents and families for the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families. She has worked in the UK’s National Health Service in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and as part of an Arts Psychotherapies Team providing individual and group Mentalization Based Arts Therapy for adults with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder.
Jade Smith
Jade Smith is a Registered Clinical Psychologist with over thirteen years of experience working in the UK’s National Health Service and specializes in working with young people and families. Dr Smith is trained in a range of therapeutic approaches to promote psychological well-being including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Systemic Therapy. She has attended trainings in Mentalization and uses Trauma Informed frameworks to guide her understanding and practice. She also provides consultation, supervision, and training.