Psychological Defense

Paulhus, Delroy L.; Fridhandler, Bram; Hayes, Sean T.

doi:10.1016/b978-012134645-4/50023-8

Cited by 103 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 115 publications

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“…Other research and theory indicate that specific defense mechanisms vary in the extent to which they are adaptive or maladaptive (Cramer, 2001, 2003; Davidson, MacGregor, Johnson, Woody, & Chaplin, 2004; Shapiro, 1986; Vaillant, 1992; Weinberger, 1990). A number of self‐report and interview techniques exist to measure individuals' use of specific defense mechanisms (Baumeister, Dale, & Sommer, 1998; Cramer, 2001, 2003; Davidson & MacGregor, 1998; Paulhus, 1990; Paulhus, Fridhandler, & Hayes, 1997; Vaillant, 1992; Weinberger, 1990). Given the present findings, we would expect that individuals with secure high self‐esteem would be most likely to report using adaptive defense mechanisms and least likely to report using maladaptive defense mechanisms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Secure Versus Fragile High Self‐Esteem as a Predictor of Verbal Defensiveness: Converging Findings Across Three Different Markers

Kernis¹,

Lakey²,

Heppner³

2008

Journal of Personality

153

150

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Why is it that many individuals verbally rationalize and distort self-esteem threatening information? We examined whether such verbal defensiveness (Feldman Barrett, Williams, & Fong, 2002) differs as a function of whether individuals' high self-esteem is secure or fragile. Our findings indicated that individuals whose self-esteem was stable, not contingent, or congruent with high implicit self-esteem exhibited especially low amounts of verbal defensiveness. In contrast, verbal defensiveness was considerably higher when individuals' high self-esteem was unstable, contingent, or paired with discrepant low implicit self-esteem. Discussion centers on why the possession of well-anchored and secure high self-esteem obviates defensiveness directed toward enhancing, maintaining, or bolstering feelings of self-worth.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Secure Versus Fragile High Self‐Esteem as a Predictor of Verbal Defensiveness: Converging Findings Across Three Different Markers

Kernis¹,

Lakey²,

Heppner³

2008

Journal of Personality

153

150

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Among the reasons for this dismissal were the origins of the concept in psychoanalysis—a theory largely rejected by academic psychology—and the status of the defense as an unconscious process—an assumption contradictory to the tenets of behaviorism (cf. Cramer, 2000; Lazarus, 1998; Paulhus, Fridhandler, & Hayes, 1997). In reaction, attempts were made to assess defensive functioning using paper and pencil tasks (e.g., Byrne, 1961).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defense Mechanisms and Physiological Reactivity to Stress

Cramer

2003

Journal of Personality

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The relation between the use of defense mechanisms and autonomic nervous system reactivity, under conditions of laboratory stress, was studied in 78 men and women. Both diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and skin conductance level (SCL) were monitored during exposure to ten stress tasks; concurrently, the use of three defense mechanisms was assessed by coding Thematic Apperception Test stories. Autonomic reactivity was found to be related to defenses; the nature of that relation differed across the defenses. DBP, typically found to be associated with cognitive work, was higher in those individuals who used more Identification, a defense that requires greater cognitive activity. The use of Projection, on the other hand, was associated with lower DBP. In addition, the use of Identification showed a tendency to be associated with lower SCL. Defense Mechanisms and Physiological Reactivity to Stress

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“…In Freud's perspective, anxiety serves as a signal to the ego that its survival is at stake. In the face of perceived threat and anxiety, psychological defense processes (such as Freudian defense mechanisms; Freud, 1936) are evoked to regulate the emotional experience (Paulhus, Fridhandler, & Hayes, 1997). Threats are typically characterized by the salience of risk of loss (Chattopadhyay, Glick, & Huber, 2001).…”

Section: Threat Perception As the Underlying Mechanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anxious, threatened, and also unethical: How anxiety makes individuals feel threatened and commit unethical acts.

Kouchaki

Desai

2015

Journal of Applied Psychology

237

195

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People often experience anxiety in the workplace. Across 6 studies, we show that anxiety, both induced and measured, can lead to self-interested unethical behavior. In Studies 1 and 2, we find that compared with individuals in a neutral state, anxious individuals are more willing (a) to participate in unethical actions in hypothetical scenarios and (b) to engage in more cheating to make money in situations that require truthful self-reports. In Studies 3 and 4, we explore the psychological mechanism underlying unethical behaviors when experiencing anxiety. We suggest and find that anxiety increases threat perception, which, in turn, results in self-interested unethical behaviors. Study 5 shows that, relative to participants in the neutral condition, anxious individuals find their own unethical actions to be less problematic than similar actions of others. In Study 6, data from subordinate-supervisor dyads demonstrate that experienced anxiety at work is positively related with experienced threat and unethical behavior. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings.

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Psychological Defense

Cited by 103 publications

References 115 publications

Secure Versus Fragile High Self‐Esteem as a Predictor of Verbal Defensiveness: Converging Findings Across Three Different Markers

Secure Versus Fragile High Self‐Esteem as a Predictor of Verbal Defensiveness: Converging Findings Across Three Different Markers

Defense Mechanisms and Physiological Reactivity to Stress

Anxious, threatened, and also unethical: How anxiety makes individuals feel threatened and commit unethical acts.

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