Comparison of Mentalization, Fear of Compassion and Attachment Styles in Non-Clinical Samples with Borderline and Normal Personality Syndromes

Comparing the characteristics of normal and disordered people is one of the topics of interest to researchers. In this regard, the aim of the research was to compare mentalization, fear of compassion and attachment styles in people with non-clinical borderline and normal personality syndromes.

Methods and Materials:

 A comparative study and statistical population were all students of Salman Farsi University of Kazeroon in the academic year 1401-1402 of both sexes. With available sampling, 136 people in the group of borderline and normal personality syndromes were selected as a sample by matching age, gender and education. Data were collected with borderline personality questionnaire, mentalization, fear of compassion and adult attachment scale and analyzed with multivariate variance by SPSS 24.

The findings showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups in self-related mentalization (F=25.745, p<0.05), but there was no difference in mentalization related to others and motivation for mentalization. Also, two groups in terms of fear of self-compassion (F=10.391, p<0.05), fear of others (F=24.365, p<0.05) and fear of receiving compassion (p<0.05, F=15.027) had a significant difference. Other findings showed that there is a significant difference between the two groups in avoidant attachment style (F=17.367, p<0.05) and ambivalent (F=47.657, p<0.05).
Conclusions Therefore, it can be said that people with borderline personality symptoms are different from normal people in mentalization, attachment styles, and fear of compassion.