Regret, Self-regulatory Abilities, and Well-Being: Their Intricate Relationships

Emotions, like regret, have been heralded as instruments of self-regulation, by instigating reflection, learning and feedback for betterment and thus increasing well-being. Yet, this view neglects taking the frequency of regret into consideration. Frequently experiencing regret may instead be a sign of repeatedly failing to achieve betterment. Previous work has shown that people who experience regret often have lower life satisfaction. We suggest that, by itself, the reflective function of regret is not enough to lead to betterment. Rather, in addition to regret, self-regulatory abilities are needed. In the absence of these abilities, the reflective function of regret does not turn off but is likely to lead to frequent episodes of regret and turn into counter-productive rumination, reducing rather than increasing well-being. We tested these possibilities in two studies. In Study 1, reports were administered about regret frequency, self-regulatory abilities, and life satisfaction in 388 US adults (54.6% males; Mage = 35, SD = 10). In the preregistered Study 2, the same instruments were administered in a replication sample of 470 British adults (22.1% males; Mage = 36, SD = 12). In both studies, low self-regulatory abilities were associated with higher regret frequency, which in turn, was associated with poorer life satisfaction. Moreover, in both studies, the negative association between regret frequency and life satisfaction was explained by ruminative brooding styles. In sum, the positive reflective function of regret for well-being cannot stand alone, but needs self-regulatory abilities. Without these abilities, regret experience is frequent and its reflective function turns into brooding rumination that negatively affects well-being.

Modern Kazakh novels: the genre transformation

This article discusses and analyzes the modern novel form, which went beyond the classical criteria. In particular, according to the works of such authors as T. Abdikov "Parasat Maidany", M.Magauin "Zharmak" and D.Amantay "Flowers and books", a genre modification of the modern novels is defined. As a result of the analysis of the works of contemporary writers, original tricks,and techniques for the transmission of modern reality by each author have been revealed. So, T.Abdikov resorts to a diary narrative,using for his artistic purposes it's "confessional", "reflective" function, which helps to reveal the character and creates the illusion of the authenticity and truthfulness of the depicted reality,and M.Magauin uses the paradigm of duality reflected in Western literature in the works of A. Camus, Z. Freud, C.-G. Jung. Thus, M.Magauin rises to the philosophical generalization of modern reality in the postmodern image. D. Amantay completely withdraws from the traditional forms of narration, tries to revealthe contradictory essence of modern reality.

Refinement of the Reflective Function Questionnaire for Youth (RFQY) Scale B Using Item Response Theory

We conducted item response theory analyses to refine the Reflective Function Questionnaire for Youth (RFQY) Scale B. Data from a non-clinical sample of young people ( n = 737; aged 18-25 years) was used to derive a shortened version of the RFQY. Results were replicated in a clinical sample of inpatient adolescents ( n = 467; aged 12-17 year), resulting in a five-item measure, thereafter named the RFQY-5. The RFQY-5 item set was then scrutinized for construct validity against the original 23-item RFQY item set in a randomly selected sample of 100 inpatient adolescents not included in the item response theory replication, and 186 healthy adolescents drawn from the community. Results showed that the RFQY-5 performed similarly as the long version in terms of associations with criterion variables, and outperformed the longer version in discriminating between inpatient and community-dwelling adolescents who differed in their levels of borderline traits. The study provides evidence in support of the use of the RFQY-5 in research and clinical settings.

Testing the Link Between Mothers' General Reflective Function Capacity and Adolescent Borderline Personality Features: Perceived Parenting Behaviors as a Potential Mechanism

Impairments in mothers' reflective function (RF), the ability to imagine the mental states of the self and others, underlies maladaptive parenting strategies, which have been associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The current study evaluated the association between mother's RF and adolescents' BPD and the mediating role of a range of parenting behaviors. Five hundred and thirty-one inpatient adolescents and their mothers participated in the current study. A multimethod assessment of BPD was used alongside mothers' self-reported quality of RF. Children completed three questionnaires about maternal parenting behaviors. There was no direct relation between mother's RF capacity and adolescents' BPD. However, mothers' adaptive certainty about mental states related to less severe BPD in adolescents, specifically through decreases in inconsistent punishment. Mothers' RF capacity predicted various parenting behaviors, which was associated with adolescents' BPD severity. Implications of findings for early intervention and prevention are discussed.

Legal Worlds and Legal Narratives

More than a simple command of a sovereign, law is a form of moral communication, something that helps constitute the way we conceive of ourselves, our community, and our culture. In this essay, I argue that law is a form of “world projection,” a way for human communities to use law as an aesthetic way to understand themselves. Within this legal world are narratives that present an idealized reflection of our world. Law has two functions, a reflective function, in which it mirrors the actual world and a reflexive function, in which it corrects undesirable aspects of the actual world. It is through these functions that law describes the narratives within legal relationships in order to say something real and important about those corresponding relationships in the actual world.

Forecasting Activities Reflective Function in a Systemic Crisis

Issues of the predictive activity methodology regarding changes in self-identification practices of societies are analyzed. A genetic approach to understanding the logic of the development of strategies for developing forecasts is implemented. Types of strategies inherent in traditional, industrial, and post-industrial societies are identified. The conclusion about the necessity of transition to a methodology based on the articulation of dynamic processes, rather than static states, in forecasting activities is substantiated.

The Relationship Between Parental Reflective Function, Attachment and Development of Child Psychopathology

This article presents a theoretical overview of the relationship between parental reflective function, attachment style and the development of child psychopathology. The concept of parental reflective function was developed by Peter Fonaghi and his colleagues. Reflexive functioning is defined as the ability to imagine our mental states, emotions and desires, as well as those of others. The ability to interpret and integrate past relational experience is seen as a high capacity for parental reflection. Central constructs in the theory of attachment are: the sensitive response of the mother, the internal working models and representations, the quality of attachment and the sense of security. In the process of developing attachment, the child builds Internal working models, which are formed on the basis of real relationships and participate in building representations of relationships. Arieta Slade and her colleagues believe that higher levels of reflective functioning are associated with secure attachment in children and conversely lower levels of reflective functioning are associated with insecure attachment in children, such as mothers of children who resist and are disorganized, they have the lowest levels of reflective functioning. Low levels of reflective functioning allow the baby's adaptive mechanisms to be distorted and to develop the pathological ways of interaction with the parent.

The association between reflective function and global functionality in patients with borderline personality disorder

Objective: To examine the association between reflective function and global functionality in borderline personality disorder (BPD) patients, controlling for symptomatology and defensive style. Method: Thirty-nine female inpatients were evaluated employing a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Structured Clinical Interview for Personality Disorders-II (SCID-II), the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ), the Defence Style Questionnaire-40 (DSQ-40) and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). Results: Functionality was inversely associated with the reflective function uncertainty score (–.458; p < .01) and neurotic defences (–.335; p < .05). Symptom severity (SRQ-20) was associated with the use of immature defences (–.445; p < .01). The association between functionality and the reflective function uncertainty score remained significant, even when controlled for symptoms and defensive style ( p = .002). Conclusion: The ability to mentalise seems to play a central and somehow independent role in BPD psychopathology.