PsychologyAugust 23, 2026
mentalizing
MEN-tuh-ly-zing
Definition
The psychological process of interpreting the behavior of others by attributing invisible mental states—such as intentions, beliefs, or emotions—to them.
Etymology
Derived from the English word 'mental' (from Latin 'mentalis', related to the mind) with the suffix '-ize', which denotes the act of applying or processing, first emerging in psychological literature in the late 20th century.
In the news
In the article, mentalizing is described as an important cognitive skill that allows us to hypothesize why strangers act the way they do, helping us navigate and predict social interactions.
Psychology says people who invent stories about strangers may naturally engage in social imagination
Read the full article ↗The Economic Times