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Research in Defense Mechanisms: What Do We Stand?
Valentina Tavoloni1, Janet Garofani, Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe
1Department of History, Humanities, and Society, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Psychiatria Danubina
|October 8, 2024
Summary
Defense mechanisms, first proposed by Freud, are crucial in clinical psychology. Understanding these psychological defenses aids in treating personality and mood disorders and adapting to challenging environments like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Sigmund Freud's concept of defense mechanisms originated over a century ago.
- Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies used to cope with reality and maintain self-image.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical evolution of defense mechanisms.
- To examine the relevance of defense mechanisms in current clinical psychology literature.
- To explore the role of defense mechanisms in psychopathology and adaptive functioning.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of clinical and empirical literature.
- Analysis of conceptual contributions and empirical findings.
- Examination of studies on defense mechanisms in various psychological disorders and environmental conditions.
Main Results:
- Defense mechanisms are linked to personality traits and defensive styles.
- Defensive functioning is associated with psychopathology, including eating, depressive, and personality disorders.
- Defense mechanisms play a role in adapting to unpredictable environmental changes, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusions:
- Defense mechanisms are vital for understanding patient symptoms and tailoring therapeutic interventions.
- Defensive functioning is a key topic in mental health.
- Further development and application of reliable assessment tools for defense mechanisms are essential for research and clinical practice.
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