The development of ego defenses in adolescence

Levit, David

doi:10.1007/bf01537712

Cited by 27 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…When the full range of ego development is represented, some of the relations are shown to be curvilinear, not linear, consistent with the findings of Lorr and Manning (1978), Starrett (1983) and Westenberg and Block (1993). In contrast, when the range of ego development is restricted-that is, either the highest and/or the lowest levels are not represented-the curvilinear relations are lost, with the result, for example, that the relation of defenses or impulsivity to ego level appears to be linear (e.g., Browning, 1986;Levit, 1993). In fact, the curvilinear relations demonstrated in the present study better fit the theoretical description of ego levels given by Loevinger (1976), in which both lowest and highest levels of ego development are characterized by impulsivity.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

“…Theory suggests that ego development, as assessed by Loevinger's Sentence Completion Test (SCT; Loevinger & Wessler, 1970), should be related to the use of defense mechanisms, and there is some support for this expectation in the research literature. The conclusions to be drawn from the existing studies, however, are hampered by inconsistent findings, the use of idiosyncratic samples, inadequate measurement reliability, lack of information regarding the external validity of the measures, and in some cases by the restricted range of ego levels represented (Bond, Gardner, Christian, & Sigal, 1983;Haan, Stroud, & Holstein, 1973;Levit, 1993). To add to the confusion, studies with older adults have generally found a lack of relation between defense maturity and ego level, in women (Helson & Wink, 1987) and in college-educated men (Vaillant & McCullough, 1987).…”

Section: Ego Development Defense Mechanisms and Impulse Control: Resmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ego Functions and Ego Development: Defense Mechanisms and Intelligence as Predictors of Ego Level

Cramer

1999

Journal of Personality

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This study considers the contribution of two ego functions--intelligence and defense mechanisms--to ego developmental level. Two independent assessments of ego level were related to IQ and defense mechanism use in a sample of 89 young adults. Whereas IQ and defense were themselves found to be unrelated, both variables predicted ego level: The relation with IQ was linear, whereas the relation with defense was curvilinear. In addition, the relation between defense and ego level varied as a function of IQ level. At low levels of IQ, stronger use of Denial and Projection was associated with higher ego levels. At high IQ levels, strong use of Denial was associated with lower ego levels, whereas moderate use of Projection was associated with higher ego levels.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Section: Ego Development Defense Mechanisms and Impulse Control: Resmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ego Functions and Ego Development: Defense Mechanisms and Intelligence as Predictors of Ego Level

Cramer

1999

Journal of Personality

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“…A US study showed repression, denial, and reactive formation to be dominant defensive mechanisms in adolescence but did not show an expected increase in intellectualization and a decrease in projection (35). The adolescents from our research showed increases in intellectualization as a more mature defense mechanism, but a high level of projection was also present, which could be interpreted as an attempt at adaptation and self-protection in difficult life circumstances.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surviving genocide in Srebrenica during the early childhood and adolescent personality

2013

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AimTo examine how the experience of genocide in Srebrenica in the early childhood (ages 1-5) influences the psychological health in adolescence.MethodsThis study included 100 school-attending adolescents, age 15-16 (born in 1990-91) who were divided in two groups according to the place of residence from 1992-1995: the Srebrenica group – adolescents who lived in Srebrenica during the siege and the non-Srebrenica group who lived in the “free territory,” were not wounded, and experienced no losses. We used the socio-demographic questionnaire created for the purposes of our study and the War Trauma Questionnaire, Posttraumatic Stress Reactions Questionnaire, Self-report Depressive Scale (Zung), Freiburg Personality Inventory, and the Lifestyle Questionnaire.ResultsSrebrenica adolescents experienced significantly more traumatic experiences (14.26 ± 3.11 vs 4.86 ± 3.16, P < 0.001). Although there was no significant difference in the total score of posttraumatic stress reactions and intensity of depression between the two groups, significantly higher scores of posttraumatic stress reaction were noticed for several specific questions. The most prominent defense mechanisms in both groups were projection, intellectualization, and reactive formation. Srebrenica adolescents had higher sociability levels (34.7% vs 16.0%, χ2 = 7.231, P = 0.020).ConclusionSrebrenica adolescents reported significantly more severe PTSD symptoms and significantly greater sociability. Our findings could be used for planning treatment and improving communication and overcoming traumas in war-affected areas.

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“…Previous research into the relationship between ego development and defenses has been inconclusive, with some studies reporting significant associations (Bond, Gardner, Christian, & Sigal, 1983;Jacobson, Beardslee, Hauser, Noam, & Powers, 1986;Levit, 1989;Noam, 1984), and others not (Vaillant & McCullough, 1987). Longitudinal studies can help clarify these complex relationships.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies using the DMI and Loevinger's measure in normal populations have demonstrated a relationship between ego development and defenses. In a study of normal adolescents, Levit (1989) reported that TAO was inversely related to ego development. In a study of normals (aged 10-77), Labouvie-Vief et al (1987) demonstrated that ego development is related to defenses even when the variance due to age is partialled out.…”

Section: Defense Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Pathways of ego development: Contributions to maladaptation and adjustment

1991

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This article investigates the impact of ego development on the course of psychiatric illness in a group of 37 psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents ages 12 to 16. The subjects, 21 males and 16 females, were evaluated at time of admission and again after 9 months of hospitalization. Using the Loevinger Sentence Completion Test (Loevinger, Wessler, & Redmore, 1970), two ego pathway groups were defined: progressors, those subjects who had advanced at least one-half stage in ego development, and nonprogressors, those who did not progress at least one-half state in ego development. Significant differences in clinical course were found between the two groups. Progressors demonstrated more significant decreases in psychiatric symptoms as measured by the Achenbach and Edelbrock (1987) Youth Self Report and had a significant change in their use of coping and defense processes compared with the nonprogressors. The findings are discussed in the context of a constructivist approach to developmental psychopathology.

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The development of ego defenses in adolescence

Cited by 27 publications

References 28 publications

Ego Functions and Ego Development: Defense Mechanisms and Intelligence as Predictors of Ego Level

Ego Functions and Ego Development: Defense Mechanisms and Intelligence as Predictors of Ego Level

Surviving genocide in Srebrenica during the early childhood and adolescent personality

Pathways of ego development: Contributions to maladaptation and adjustment

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