The Concept of Defense Mechanisms in Contemporary Psychology

I General Issues.- 1. A Critical Perspective on Defense Mechanisms.- Freudian Psychoanalytic Defense Mechanisms.- The Work of Vaillant and Horowitz.- Conclusions.- References.- 2. Defense Mechanisms in the Clinic and in the Laboratory: An Attempt at Bridging the Gap.- Early Formulations and Conceptual Developments.- Contributions of Ego Analysts: Anna Freud and Others.- Conceptual Revisions and Modifications.- Defenses as Predictable and Observable Variables: From the Clinic to the Laboratory.- Unanswered Questions: Future Research Objectives.- References.- 3. What Is a Mechanism of Defense?.- References.- 4. Percept-Genesis and the Study of Defensive Processes.- Microgenesis, Percept-Genesis, and the Theory of Perception.- Schools and Research Paradigms of Microgenesis.- The Perceptual Process.- Parallelisms.- Determinants of the Percept.- The Technique of Information Reduction.- The Theory of Defense.- Modification of the Classical Theory.- Percept-Genesis and the Study of Defensive Processes.- Validity of the Percept-Genetic Approach.- References.- II Methodological Considerations.- 5. The Measurement of Defense Mechanisms by Self-Report Questionnaires.- The Historical Roots of Defense Mechanisms: A Concept Formulated Without Any Intent of Its Quantification or Experimental Testing.- The Full Scope of the Defensive Process and Different Methods for Its Registration.- Questionnaires and the Theory of Psychometric Measurement.- On the Theoretical Background for the Construction of Different Self-Report Questionnaires for Measuring Defense.- Theoretical and Empirical Implications for Regarding Defense as a Complex Construct.- The Implications of the Complex Model Interpretation of Defense for Further Research.- References.- 6. The Assessment of Primitive Defense Mechanisms by Projective Techniques.- The Empirical Assessment of Defense Mechanisms.- The Assessment of Low Level Defense Mechanisms by Means of the Rorschach and the Holtzman Inkblot Technique.- References.- 7. Percept-Genetic Methodology.- The Defense Mechanism Test (DMT).- The Meta-Contrast Technique (MCT).- DMT and MCT: A Comparison.- References.- 8. The Study of Defenses in Psychotherapy Using the Defense Mechanism Rating Scales (DMRS).- Description of the Defense Mechanism Rating Scales.- Potential Significance of Studying Defenses in Psychotherapy.- References.- III Personality and Applied Psychology.- 9. Causal Attributions of Disease as Related to Dynamic Personality Variables.- Method.- Results.- Discussion.- References.- 10. Exploration of the Relationship Between Anxiety and Defense: Semantic Differential Ratings of Defense Mechanism Test Stimuli.- The Experiment.- Method.- Results.- Discussion.- References.- 11. The Cognitive Determinants of Defense Mechanisms.- Cognitive Precursors of Defense Mechanisms.- Belief Constellations Conducive to Defense Mechanisms.- Defense Mechanisms as a Specific Kind of Programs.- Predicting the Application of Defense Mechanisms.- Cognitive Dynamics Underlying Defense Mechanisms.- The Meaning System.- Patterns of Meaning Variables and Defense Mechanisms.- Beliefs and Meaning Variables as Predictors of Defenses.- Modifying Defense Mechanisms.- Summing Up and Some Afterthoughts.- References.- 12. Development of the Repression-Sensitization Construct: With Special Reference to the Discrepancy Between Subjective and Physiological Stress Reactions.- Multiple Variable Approaches with Traditional Instruments.- The Discrepancy Hypothesis.- Person-Oriented Approaches.- Concluding Remark.- References.- 13. Augmenting/Reducing: A Link Between Perceptual and Emotional Aspects of Psychophysiological Individuality.- Classical Notions of Augmenting/Reducing.- Recent Work.- References.- 14. A Psychodynamic Activation Study of Female Oedipal Fantasies Using Subliminal and Percept-Genetic Techniques.- Hypotheses.- Man Conditions.- Woman Conditions.- Method.- Results.- Discussion.- References.- 15. Aspects of the Construct Validity of the Defense Mechanism Test.- Method.- Research Design.- Results and Discussion.- Conclusion.- References.- 16. Adaptation to Boredom and Stress: The Effects of Defense Mechanisms and Concept Formation on Attentional Performance in Situations with Inadequate Stimulation.- Method.- Results.- Discussion.- References.- IV Clinical Assessment and Psychotherapeutic Interventions.- 17. The Structure and Process of Defense in Diagnosis of Personality and in Psychoanalytic Treatment.- Clinical Definitions of Defense Mechanisms.- The Structure of Diagnostic Evaluations of Defense Mechanisms.- Personality Diagnosis as a Determinant of Defense Structure.- Defense Variables of the Process in Psychoanalytic Treatment.- References.- 18. The Measurement of Ego Defenses in Clinical Research.- Variations in the Concept of Ego Defenses.- The Life Style Index.- Conclusions and Directions for Future Research.- References.- 19. Validation of the German Version of Bond's Questionnaire of Defensive Styles.- The German Version of the Questionnaire.- Discussion.- References.- 20. Regulative Styles and Defenses: Some Relationships Between the Serial Color-Word Test and the Defense Mechanism Test.- Method.- Results.- Discussion.- References.- 21. Change in Defense Mechanisms Following Intensive Treatment, As Related to Personality Organization and Gender.- Method.- Results.- Discussion.- References.- 22. Defense Mechanisms in Interaction with Intellectual Performance in Depressive Inpatients.- Method.- Results.- Discussion.- References.- 23. Defense Mechanisms and Hope as Protective Factors in Physical and Mental Disorders.- Methods and Procedures.- Results.- Discussion.- Summary and Conclusions.- References.- 24. Defense Mechanisms in Patients with Bone Marrow Transplantation: A Retrospective Study.- Theoretical Considerations and Guiding Questions.- Method.- Results.- Discussion.- References.- V Psychosomatics.- 25. Attitudes Toward Illness and Health and Defense Mechanisms in Psychosomatic Patients.- Aim and Method.- Results.- Discussion.- Concluding Remarks.- References.- 26. Anorexics and Bulimics Compared Vis-a-Vis Defense, Proximity, and Separation.- Method.- Results.- Discussion.- References.- 27. Defense Styles in Eating Disorders.- Why Is It Important To Look at Defense and Coping?.- Differences in Defense Styles in Eating Disorders: How Can They Be Studied?.- Participants.- The Instrument for Studying Defenses.- Questions Addressed in This Study.- References.- 28. Defense Mechanisms and Defense Organizations: Their Role in the Adaptation to the Acute Stage of Crohn's Disease.- The Heidelberg Research Project on Crohn's Disease.- Results.- Summary and Conclusion.- References.