Elsevier S & T

Defense Mechanisms: Theoretical, Research and Clinical Perspectives

Hentschel, Uwe; Smith, Gudmund; Draguns, Juris G; Ehlers, Wolfram

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Table of contents
  • Coveriii
  • Contentsix
  • PREFACEv
  • General Issues1
  • 1. DEFENSE MECHANISMS: CURRENT APPROACHES TO RESEARCH AND MEASUREMENT3
  • Defense Mechanisms in a Casual Social Contact3
  • From the Historical Roots of Defense Mechanisms to Contemporary Conceptualizations4
  • Defenses: Theoretical, Observational, and Measurement Aspects8
  • The Full Scope of the Defensive Process12
  • Coping, Defending, and Cognitive Styles15
  • Empirical approaches to the measurement of defenses17
  • Theoretical and Empirical Implications of Regarding Defense as a Complex Construct26
  • The Implications of the Complex Model Interpretation of Defense for Further Research28
  • 2. A CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE ON DEFENSE MECHANISMS43
  • Freudian Psychoanalytic Defense Mechanisms43
  • The Work of Vaillant and Horowitz46
  • Conclusions51
  • 3. DEFENSE MECHANISMS IN THE CLINIC, THE LABORATORY, AND THE SOCIAL WORLD: TOWARD CLOSING THE GAPS.55
  • Introduction: From Clinical Observation to Systematic Research55
  • Defense Mechanisms: The Status of the Evidence55
  • The Context of Defense Mechanisms59
  • Defense Mechanisms in the Present: A Variety of Clinically Relevant Results61
  • Beyond the Clinic: Extensions of Defense Mechanisms into Other Areas of Psychology62
  • Unfinished Tasks, Unanswered Questions65
  • Unfinished Tasks, New Topics69
  • 4. WHAT IS A MECHANISM OF DEFENSE?77
  • 5. PERCEPT-GENESIS AND THE STUDY OF DEFENSIVE PROCESSES91
  • Microgenesis, Percept-Genesis, and the Theory of Perception91
  • Schools and Research Paradigms of Microgenesis92
  • The Perceptual Process93
  • Parallelisms94
  • Determinants of the Percept95
  • The Technique of Information Reduction95
  • The Theory of Defense97
  • Modifications of the Classical Theory97
  • Percept-Genesis and the Study of Defensive Processes99
  • The Defense Mechanism Test99
  • The Meta-Contrast Technique99
  • Validity of the Percept-Genetic Approach100
  • Percept-Genetic, Projective and Rating Techniques for the Assessment of Defense Mechanisms105
  • 6. DEFENSE MECHANISMS AND COGNITIVE STYLES IN PROJECTIVE TECHNIQUES AND OTHER DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENTS107
  • Introduction107
  • The Assessment of Defense Mechanisms108
  • The Assessment of Low-Level Defense Mechanisms by Means of the Rorschach and the Holtzman Inkblot Te109
  • Cognitive Style: Avoidance of Ambiguity117
  • 7. PERCEPT-GENETIC IDENTIFICATION OF DEFENSE129
  • The Defense Mechanism Test (DMT)134
  • Modifications of the DMT138
  • Percept-genetic Object-Relations Test (PORT)139
  • New Thematic Innovations Based on the DMT Device140
  • The Meta-Contrast Technique (MCT)141
  • New Thematic Innovations Based on the MCT Device The Identity Test (IT)145
  • DMT and MCT: A Comparison147
  • 8. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CONSTRUCT VALIDITY OF THE DEFENSE MECHANISM TEST153
  • Method154
  • Results and Discussion156
  • 9. STUDYING DEFENSE MECHANISMS IN PSYCHOTHERAPY USING THE DEFENSE MECHANISM RATING SCALES165
  • Introduction165
  • Description of the Defense Mechanism Rating Scales165
  • The Selection of Raters171
  • Rater Training172
  • Methods of Comparing DMRS Defense Scores174
  • Important Considerations Regarding Different Data Sources176
  • Reliability and Stability of Defense Ratings180
  • Recent and Ongoing Research Relevant to Psychotherapy182
  • Potential Directions for Studying Defenses in Psychotherapy186
  • 10. THE MOTIVATIONAL AND COGNITIVE DETERMINANTS OF DEFENSE MECHANISMS195
  • Introduction195
  • The Function of DMs195
  • DMs as Cognitive Strategies196
  • The Motivational Determinants of Defense Mechanisms198
  • The CO Theory198
  • Cognitive Determinants of Defense Mechanisms209
  • Modifying Defense Mechanisms225
  • 11. REPRESSIVE COPING STYLE AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VERBAL-AUTONOMIC RESPONSE DISSOCIATIONS239
  • The Repression Construct239
  • Multiple Variable Approaches with Traditional Instruments243
  • Person-Oriented Approaches245
  • The Discrepancy Hypothesis249
  • The One-Dimensional Operationalization of Repression-Sensitization and the Discrepancy Hypothesis250
  • Multiple Variable Approaches and Person-Oriented Approaches and the Discrepancy Hypothesis251
  • Skin Conductance Studies253
  • Cardiovascular Studies255
  • Conclusions: What Do the Discrepancies Indicate?258
  • Verbal-Autonomic Response Dissociation and Health261
  • Concluding Remarks264
  • 12. PERCEPTUAL AND EMOTIONAL ASPECTS OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL INDIVIDUALITY279
  • Classic Notions of Augmenting/Reducing279
  • Conceptualizations of the Activity/Reactivity Typology280
  • 13. A PSYCHODYNAMIC ACTIVATION STUDY OF FEMALE OEDIPAL FANTASIES USING SUBLIMINAL AND PERCEPTGENETIC285
  • Hypotheses286
  • Man Conditions287
  • Woman Conditions288
  • Method289
  • Results292
  • Discussion297
  • 14. ADAPTATION TO BOREDOM AND STRESS: THE EFFECTS OF DEFENSE MECHANISMS AND CONCEPT FORMATION ON ATT303
  • Introduction303
  • Method306
  • Results312
  • Discussion318
  • 15. STRESS, AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM REACTIVITY, AND DEFENSE MECHANISMS325
  • Defense Mechanisms and Physiological Reactivity to Stress325
  • The Assessment of Defense Mechanisms327
  • Defensive Behavior and Autonomic Reaction to Stress: Skin Conductance Level328
  • Defensive Behavior and Autonomic Reaction to Stress: CV Reactivity...329
  • Defense and Physiological Reactivity330
  • Method332
  • Results335
  • Discussion341
  • Defense Mechanisms in Psychotherapy and Clinical Research351
  • 16. CLINICAL EVALUATION OF STRUCTURE AND PROCESS OF DEFENSE MECHANISMS BEFORE AND DURING PSYCHOANALY353
  • Introduction353
  • The Defense Model of Ego Psychology355
  • The Defense Model in Melanie Klein's Object Relations Theory357
  • Research Methodology and Logical Definitions of Defense Mechanisms361
  • Results of the Structure of Diagnostic Evaluation of Defense Mechanisms (Part 1)364
  • Test of the Model of Ego-Psychology364
  • Test of the Model of M. Klein's and O. Kernberg's Object Relations Theory366
  • Defense Structure as a Determinant of Personality Diagnosis368
  • The Process of Defense in Psychoanalytic Treatment (Part 2)371
  • Theory and Method of Process Analysis372
  • Process Development and Identification of Segments for Patient G376
  • Process Segments of Patient S (low structural level)380
  • The Process of Defense for Patients G and S in Constructing Distinctive Defense Models During the Th386
  • Conclusions387
  • 17. THE MEASUREMENT OF EGO DEFENSES IN CLINICAL RESEARCH393
  • Variations in the Concept of Ego Defenses393
  • The Life Style Index395
  • The Life Style Index and Clinical Research399
  • Ego Defenses and Outcome for Hospitalized Schizophrenics399
  • Ego Defenses and Outcome of Long-Term Psychotherapy401
  • Defense Mechanisms in Relation to Risk of Suicide and Risk of Violence402
  • Defense Mechanisms and Psychophysiology404
  • Clinicians' Conceptions of Ego Defenses in Relation to Psychotherapy Outcome405
  • Translations and Adaptations: International Extensions of the LSI407
  • Conclusions and Directions for Future Research408
  • 18. PATTERNS OF ADAPTATION AND PERCEPT-GENETIC DEFENSES415
  • Introduction415
  • Method418
  • Instruments418
  • Results420
  • Discussion426
  • 19. INTELLECTUAL PERFORMANCE AND DEFENSE MECHANISMS IN DEPRESSION431
  • Method435
  • The Tests Used: The DMT and the Jastak Test436
  • Changes in the Original Design of the Study437
  • Results440
  • Clustering on the Basis of the Jastak Test440
  • Defense in Interaction with Intellectual Performance441
  • Discussion444
  • 20. DEFENSE MECHANISMS AND HOPE AS PROTECTIVE FACTORS IN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISORDERS453
  • Methods and Procedures456
  • Measurement of Emotions and Defenses460
  • Statistical Procedures462
  • Results462
  • Discussion469
  • Summary and Conclusions472
  • 21. DEFENSE MECHANISM AND PHYSICAL HEALTH477
  • Why Expect Defense Mechanisms to Play a Role in the Context of Physical Diseases?477
  • Assumed Roles of DMs in the Context of Physical Diseases478
  • Difficulties in Studying DMs in the Context of Physical Diseases479
  • DMs and Specific Physical Disorders480
  • A study on DMS and Coping in Cancer Patients493
  • General Conclusions500
  • 22. PATIENTS CONFRONTED WITH A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION: THE IMPORTANCE OF DEFENSE MECHANISMS IN P521
  • Introduction521
  • Own Study523
  • Results525
  • Discussion526
  • Two Prototypical Cases528
  • A Preliminary Attempt of Evaluating the Meaning of the Two Functions531
  • Defense Mechanisms in Psychosomatic Research535
  • 23. DEFENSE MECHANISMS, LIFE STYLE, AND HYPERTENSION.537
  • Introduction537
  • Method, Sample and Procedure540
  • Measurement of Defense Mechanisms541
  • Values and Attitudes Towards Health and Illness541
  • Registration of Life Events541
  • Results542
  • Discussion547
  • 24. IN DEFENSE OF OBESITY557
  • Obesity - an Expanding Problem557
  • The Simple but Unattainable Curing of Obesity557
  • Origins of Obesity558
  • Eating in Response to Displeasure561
  • Eating in Response to Idiosyncratic Motives562
  • Psychological Defense: An Alternative to Eating in the Control of Anxiety562
  • Psychological Features in ObesePatients Investigated Before and After Treatment563
  • Psychological Correlates of Differential Weight Loss AfterTtreatment...570
  • Conclusions574
  • 25. AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF SEVERE EATING DISORDERS (ANOREXIA NERVOSA AND BULIMIA NERVOSA)581
  • Introduction581
  • Method583
  • The Interview584
  • Case Descriptions584
  • Single and Double Pair-Wise Comparisons584
  • The Identity Test (IT)585
  • The Meta-Contrast Technique (MCT)586
  • The Creative Functioning Test (CFT)587
  • Reliability of the Tests587
  • Tennessee Self Concept Scale (TSCS)587
  • Results588
  • Discussion592
  • 26. DEFENSE ORGANIZATIONS AND COPING IN THE COURSE OF CHRONIC DISEASE: A STUDY ON CROHN'S DISEASE597
  • The Heidelberg Research Project on Crohn's Disease597
  • Results600
  • Case Example603
  • Summary606
  • Defense Mechanisms in Neuropsychological context609
  • 27. DEFENSE MECHANISMS AND THEIR PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL CORRELATES611
  • Introduction611
  • Neuropsychology, Physiology and Defense Mechanisms: Is There an Empirical Link?612
  • Coping and Physiological Reactions613
  • Empirical Evidence for the Relationship Between Defense Mechanisms and Physiological Variables614
  • Neuropsychological Variables and Defense615
  • Activation Theory and Defense615
  • Lateralization and Defense616
  • Other Measures of Central Processes in Relation to Defense617
  • Cardiovascular and Skin Conductance Reactions in Relation to Defenses619
  • Respiration and Defenses620
  • Endocrine Parameters and Defense Mechanisms622
  • Discussion624
  • INDEX635
  • LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS643
Book details
  • Vendor Elsevier S & T
  • SKU 9780444512635
  • ISBN-13 9780080477077
  • Author Hentschel, Uwe; Smith, Gudmund; Draguns, Juris G; Ehlers, Wolfram
  • Category Psychology
  • Subject Personality

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The book is focused on defense mechanisms as theoretical constructs as well as the possibilities of their empirical registration by different methods, and the application of these constructs in different fields of psychology with special regard to concurrent and predictive validity. It is argued that defense mechanisms are in many ways to be seen as integrative constructs, not necessarily restricted to psychoanalytic theory and that the potential fields of their application have a wide ranging scope, comprising many fields of psychology. Consequently empirical studies are presented from the fields of clinical and personality psychology, psychotherapy research and psychosomatic phenomena and diseases. Methodological questions have a heavy weight in most of these studies.

* Provides coverage of relevant literature
* Covers different fields of application
* Attempts an integration of the contstruct of defense mechanisms into mainstream psychology
* Provides explanations of the theoretical basis of the construct of defense mechanisms