Mentality

Mentality

Noun · /mɛnˈtæl.ɪ.ti/

Definition

The characteristic way in which a person or group thinks; the set of attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions that shape how someone sees and responds to the world; the typical mind-set of a particular social group or community.

Origin

From mental (from Latin mentalis, relating to the mind, from mens, mentis, mind) + the suffix -ity (from Latin -itas, forming abstract nouns). The same mens, mentis root gives mental, mention, comment, mentality, demented (out of one's mind), and is related to Greek menos (spirit, courage, mental force) and English mind. The word mentality developed in the 19th century as psychology and social science developed frameworks for thinking about collective as well as individual minds.