The Best Gift You Can Give Your Child

Reflective Functioning

Generally, our expectations serve us well. They help us imagine the future and navigate a complex world that might otherwise overwhelm us. But sometimes our expectations can lead us astray. When this happens repeatedly, parents are likely suffering from low reflective functioning (RF). RF is a parent’s capacity to be curious about their child’s experience. It is one of the most robust predictors of attachment security, self-esteem, relationship satisfaction, the capacity to empathize, social cognition, and self-regulation (Fonagy, 2005).