Growth in Adult Ego Development and Mentalizing Emotions for an Increasingly Multidimensional God Image

Abstract

Growth in cognitive complexity in the framework of adult ego development has shown to enable sophistication in mentalizing interpersonal emotions. This has implications for cultivating a more multidimensional God Image for spirituality in the Judeo-Christian tradition. The construct of mentalization will be used to understand the integration of these concepts. Empirical findings that support this conceptual integration will be explored. Clinical applications for spiritually integrated psychotherapy will follow.