Despite the growth in applied theory and research focused on the construct of reflective functioning (RF) in the recent decades, there has been minimal basic research examining RF. This lack of research has left gaps in understanding of the basic cognitive processes associated with RF. Understanding such processes is not only important for integrating RF within the broader clinical science landscape but also presents opportunities for developing new experimental paradigms for researching RF. Given overlaps between the functionality, developmental course, and the neurobiological bases of RF and executive-functioning (EF), examining the association between RF and EF presents a critical first step in connecting RF with basic psychological research. In the current study, I examine the association between RF and EF cross-sectionally in a community sample of individuals ranging in age from 15-45 years old. In addition to examining the basic association between RF and EF, I also examine the degree to which age, history of childhood maltreatment, and adult attachment style moderate this relationship. Results from this study suggest that RF is positively associated with domains of EF, such that higher EF is related to higher ability to identify, process, and express internal states of self and other. Age, childhood maltreatment, and adult attachment style are associated with EF and RF, and childhood maltreatment and adult attachment style tend to moderate the association between EF and one's motivation towards RF. These results provide some initial understanding of the relationship between basic cognitive functions, relational experiences, and RF, and highlight the potential for future work to continue to integrate the construct of RF within the broader clinical science literature.
Read
