Capacity to mentalize and achievement motivation

The aim of this study was to check the potential relation between the capacity to mentalize and achievement motivation. The sample consisted of two subsamples. Sample from Serbia consisted of 142 respondents, of both sexes (Female=100; Male=42). The age range in this sample was from 18 to 43 (M=20.24). Sample from North Macedonia consisted of 100 respondents, students from Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje, both sexes (Female=65; Male=35). The age range in this sample was from 18 to 45 (M=22.2). Mentalization was operationalized using Questionnaire for assessing Mentalization (Dimitrijević, Hanak, Altaras-Dimitrijević & Jolić-Marjanović, 2017), while Achievement Motivation was measured using Achievement Motivation Scale (Franseško, Mihić, Bala, 2002). The data were analyzed by the usage of linear correlation between capacity for mentalization and achievement motivation. On the Serbian sample, statistically significant correlations were found between mentalization of self and persistence in achieving goals (r=-.354) and achieving goals as a source of satisfaction (r=-.210), between mentalization of others and persistence in achieving goals (r=.253), tendency towards competing (r=.170) and achieving goals as a source of satisfaction (r=.209), and between motivation for mentalization and and persistence in achieving goals (r=.275), tendency towards competing (r=.242) and achieving goals as a source of satisfaction (r=.282). On the sample from North Macedonia statistically significant correlations were found between mentalization of self and persistence in achieving goals (r=-.218), between mentalization of others and persistence in achieving goals (r=.423), tendency towards planning (r=.217) and achieving goals as a source of satisfaction (r=.356), and between motivation for mentalization and all components of achievement motivation (p<.001). In conclusion, we can say that these two constructs, both developed at an early age are connected to each other, and that patter of this connection is nearly completely the same for two examined cultures.