Sex roles as factors in defense mechanisms and object relations

For this study, 150 men and 164 women completed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory and the Defense Mechanisms Inventory. Data analyses showed that Turning Against the Object related negatively to femininity, Reversal of Affect related positively to femininity, and that the inner-oriented mode of object relations was associated with femininity. For women only, masculinity related positively with Principalization and Reversal of Affect, and negatively with Turning Against the Self. We interpret the results by viewing the measured defenses as being linked to aggression and its sex-role correlates.