DOI: https://doi.org/10.17072/2078-7898/2020-2-270-280

Two-dimensional classification of psychological defense mechanisms

Elena R. Pilyugina
Ph.D. Student of the Department
of Developmental Psychology and Psychophysiology

Kazan Innovative University named after V.G. Timiryasov,
42, Moscowskaya st., Kazan, 420111, Russia;
e-mail: simvol352@mail.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6737-423X

The paper proposes the author’s classification of psychological defense mechanisms, consisting of 20 mechanisms and representing a two-dimensional model. The idea of this model is that these mechanisms have a cross-relationship between 4 levels of the hierarchy (psychotic, infantile, neurotic, and adaptive groups) and 5 types of overcoming frustration which are the basis for the formation and functioning of the defense mechanism. The novelty of the article is the idea that each of the 20 defense mechanisms belongs to one of the 5 types of overcoming frustration — distracting type (mechanisms of regression, action out, compensation, sublimation), «guilty» type (mechanisms of hypochondria, passive-aggressive behavior, reactive formation, altruism), avoiding type (mechanisms of repression, denial, avoidance, suppression), rationalizing type (mechanisms of dissociation, displacement/transfer, rationalization, humor), controlling type (mechanisms of isolation, projection, omnipotence, anticipation). The paper provides description of the defense mechanisms, examples of their manifestation, and possible reasons for their formation. The substantiation of the defense mechanisms’ belonging to the particular groups and types of classification is given. The classification is proposed as a convenient diagnostic tool for counseling psychologists, because it has an optimal number of defense mechanisms, fairly clear criteria for their determination, their location in the structure of psychological defense and the basis for their functioning. The article also provides an overview of current classifications of defense mechanisms and voices problems related to the identification and streamlining of defense mechanisms. These problems are the subtlety of semantic difference and blurring of borders between defense mechanisms, different interpretations in terminology due to difficulties in translation from foreign languages, differences in approaches to hierarchy of defense mechanisms.

Keywords: psychological defense, defense mechanisms, classification of defense mechanisms, glossary of defense.

 

References

Bond, M. (1992). An empirical study of defensive styles: The defense style questionnaire. Vaillant G.E. Ego mechanisms of defense: A guide for clinicians and researchers. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing Publ., pp. 127–158.

Cramer, P. (2015). Defense mechanisms: 40 years of empirical research. Journal of Personality Assessment. Vol. 97, iss. 2, pp. 114–122. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2014.947997

Cramer, P. (2008). Seven pillars of defense mechanism theory. Social and Personality Psychology Compass. Vol. 2, iss. 5, pp. 1963–1981. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9004.2008.00135.x

Dolgova, V. and Kondrat’eva, O. (2014). Psikhologicheskaya zaschita [Psychological defense]. Moscow: Pero Publ., 157 p.

Freud, A. (1992). The ego and the mechanisms of defense. London: Karnac Books Publ., 208 p.

Freud, S. (2000). Das Ich und das Es (1923) [The Ego and the Id (1923)]. Vol. 6, pp. 235–289.

Fromm, E. (1994). Escape from freedom. New York: Holt Paperbacks Publ., 320 p.

Granovskaya, R.M. (2010). Psikhologicheskaya zaschita [Psychological defense]. Saint Petersburg: Rech’ Publ., 476 p.

Jacobson, A., Beardslee, W., Gelfand, E., Hause, S., Noam, G. and Powers, S. (1992). An approach to evaluating adolescent ego defense mechanisms using clinical interviews. Vaillant G.E. Ego mechanisms of defense: A guide for clinicians and researchers. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing Publ., pp. 181–194.

McWilliams, N. (2011). Psychoanalytic diagnosis: Understanding personality structure in the clinical process. New York: Guilford Press, 426 p.

Meissner, W.W. (1980). Theories of personality and psychopathology: Classical psychoanalysis. Comprehensive textbook of psychiatry, ed. by H.I. Kaplan, A.M. Freedman, B.J. Sadock, 3rd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins Publ., Vol. 1, pp. 631–728.

Moskalenko, V. (2014). Roli vyzhivaniya detey v alkogol’nykh sem’yakh [Roles of the survival of children in alcoholic families]. Voprosy narkologii [Issues of Addiction]. No. 5, pp. 84–101.

Perry, J.C. (1990). Defense mechanism rating scale. Cambridge, MA: Harvard School of Medicine Publ., pp. 122–130.

Piaget, J. and Rosin, A. (1977). The development of thought: Equilibration of cognitive structures. New York: Viking Press, 213 p.

Plutchik, R., Kellerman, H. and Conte, H. R. (1979). A structural theory of ego defenses and emotions. Emotions in personality and psychopathology, ed. by C.E. Izard. Boston, MA: Springer, Publ., pp. 227–257. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2892-6_9

Poroykov, S.Yu. (2016). Filosofsko-psikhologicheskiy podkhod k sistematizatsii zaschit [Philosophical and psychological approach to the systematization of defenses]. Novoe v psikhologo-pedagogicheskikh issledovaniyakh [New in Psychological and Pedagogical Research]. No. 2(42), pp. 19–30.

Raygorodskiym D.Ya. (ed.) (2011). Metodika diagnostiki dominiruyuschey strategii psikhologicheskoy zaschity v obschenii V.V. Boyko [Methodology for the diagnosis of the dominant strategy of psychological defense in communication V.V. Boyko]. Prakticheskaya psikhodiagnostika. Metodiki i testy [Practical psychodiagnostics. Methods and tests]. Samara: BAHRAH-M Publ., pp. 281–287.

Reber, A.S. and Gullickson, T. (1996). Dictionary of psychology. PsycCRITIQUES. Vol. 41, no. 8, p. 848. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/003107

Romanova, E. and Grebennikov, L. (1996). Mekhanizmy psikhologicheskoy zaschity: genezis, funktsionirovanie, diagnostika [Psychological defense mechanisms: genesis, functioning, diagnostics]. Mytishchi: Talant Publ., 144 p.

Subbotina, L. (2013). Psikhologiya zaschitnykh mekhanizmov lichnosti [Psychology of the protective mechanisms of personality]. Yaroslavl: YSU Publ., 164 p.

Tunik, E.E. (2010). Psikhologicheskie zaschity [Psychological defenses]. Saint Petersburg: Rech’ Publ., 218 p.

Vaillant, G.E. (1992). Ego mechanisms of defense: a guide for clinicans and researchers. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing, Publ., 306 p.

Vaillant, G.E. (1971). Theoretical hierarchy of adaptive ego mechanisms: A 30-year follow-up of 30 men selected for psychological health. Archives of General Psychiatry. Vol. 24, iss. 2, pp. 107–118. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1971.01750080011003

Vasilyuk, F.E. (1984). Psikhologiya perezhivaniya. Moscow: MSU Publ., 202 p.

Vasserman, L., Eryshev, O. and Klubova, E. et al. (2005). Psikhologicheskaya diagnostika indeksa zhiznennogo stilya [Psychological diagnostics of the life style index]. Saint Petersburg, 48 p.

Received 03.04.2020

For citation:

Pilyugina E.R. [Two-dimensional classification of psychological defense mechanisms]. Vestnik Permskogo universiteta. Filosofia. Psihologia. Sociologia [Perm University Herald. Philosophy. Psychology. Sociology], 2020, issue 2, pp. 270–280 (in Russian). DOI: https://doi.org/10.17072/2078-7898/2020-2-270-280