The role of mentalising in the management of violence

Summary Violence between people is a complex social phenomenon involving both social and individual psychological variables. Prevention of violence includes attention to risk factors for violence; but also the provision of interventions for those who have been violent to others. This article explores the evidence that failures of the mentalising process are a risk factor for acts of violence, especially in mental health service users; and describes the implementation of potential therapeutic programmes that seek to improve mentalising in individuals who pose a risk of serious violence to others.