Do borderline traits make people more sensitive? the relationship between borderline personality traits and mentalization capacity

The literature on the relationship between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and Theory of Mind (ToM) has revealed mixed results. Studies generally indicate difficulties in mentalization abilities among individuals with BPD, but it is still unclear whether these difficulties stem from a deficit in mentalization (or ToM) or from excessive mentalization. This study therefore aimed to investigate the relationship between borderline personality traits, reflective functioning, and ToM. A total of 70 participants took part in the study. The age range of the participants was 19 to 58, with the majority falling into the young adult category. Borderline Personality Scale, Reflective Functioning Scale, Experiences in Close Relationships- II Scale, Beck Depression scale, and Faux Pas Task were utilized in data collection process. The results indicated that participants with high borderline traits displayed a greater tendency towards hypomentalization rather than hypermentalization. Additionally, participants with high borderline traits obtained lower scores in the Faux Pas Task. Furthermore, higher scores on BPS were related to higher levels of both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. No significant results were obtained with regard to age and gender. These findings are significant in enhancing our understanding of the relationship between borderline personality traits and mentalization. Keywords: borderline personality disorder (BPD), mentalization, reflective function, Theory of mind (ToM), faux pas task