Defense mechanism is predicted by attachment and mediates the maladaptive influence of insecure attachment on adolescent mental health

Abstract

There is limited research exploring attachment style and defenses in adolescents. The purpose of the current research is to explore the relationship between adolescent attachment style and development of defense mechanisms, as well as attachment style and problem behaviors. A total of 1487 students from two California high-schools completed three self-report questionnaires to establish defense mechanisms, psychiatric symptoms, and attachment style. Attachment styles characterized by a positive selfimage predict greater levels of mature defense mechanisms, and lower levels of immature defense mechanisms, both in the interpersonal and intrapsychic domains. Relationships between insecure attachment styles and psychopathology were mediated by greater levels of immature defense mechanisms. These results provide initial compelling evidence that: a) attachment style is an important determinant of the type of defense mechanisms utilized by the individual to maintain psychological stability; and b) defense mechanisms serve to transmit the detrimental effects of insecure attachment style on psychological health.

Attachment styles modulate neural markers of threat and imagery when engaging in self-criticism

“…In contrast, avoidantly attached individuals do not have access to safe attachment inner working models and therefore lack these coping resources. To protect themselves from becoming overwhelmed by the threat of self-criticism, such individuals may deploy coping strategies of denial or dissociation from the threatening event, thereby possible engaging in less mental imagery 35 .…”

Associations Between Defense Styles, Approaches to Learning, and Achievement Among University Students

“…Although there is a shortage of studies identifying associations between defense mechanisms and approaches, the two constructs share similarities with regard to personality, cognition and behavior. Defense mechanisms are generally considered stable dynamic patterns and relatively long-lasting personality features (Kramer, 2010;Laczkovics et al, 2018). Besides, research has indicated stability in approaches, described in terms of the students' disposition to understand (Entwistle, 2018); a range of studies has revealed that students hardly change their initial approach to learning in the course of their studies (Postareff et al, 2015;Asikainen and Gijbels, 2017).…”

Understanding Fantasy and Adult Doll Play Through Regression in Service of the Self

“…Instead, these individuals preferred to keep their dolls as "original" as possible (original in the sense that it's unmodified, uncustomized, and bought as-is from the doll company). This suggests that these individuals may have an inflexible disposition or an inability to tolerate change, which is similar to the childish (instead of childlike) acts of regression describe by Kroeber (1963).…”

“…The distinction between being "childish" or acting "childlike" was clearly delineated by scholars in the personality and ego psychology traditions of the 1950s and 60s. In his study of "coping functions of the ego mechanisms," Kroeber (1963) contrasted "regression" and "playfulness" in the context of "time reversal", which encompasses an "ability to replay or recapture experiences, feelings, attitudes, ideas of the past" (p. 187). In childish acts of regression, a person "resorts to evasive, wistful .…”