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Relationship between cognitive style and defensive style
A H Westreich1, B Ritzler, J Duncan
1Long Island University, USA.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|June 1, 1997
Summary
This study explored cognitive and defensive styles, finding they are positively correlated, not independent. Measurement issues mean firm conclusions about these psychological styles require further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Psychoanalytic Theory
Background:
- Cognitive style and defensive style are key psychological constructs.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the relationship between these styles.
- Developmental psychology offers a framework for understanding cognitive style variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cognitive style and defensive style.
- To formulate and test a new model of visual attention cognitive styles across developmental levels.
- To examine the correlation between specific cognitive and defense mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Developed a new framework for visual attention cognitive styles (global, local, global-plus-local) across concrete and formal operational stages.
- Administered global-local sorting tasks, Sentence Preference Test, Embedded Figures Test, and Defense Style Questionnaire to 50 subjects.
- Analyzed data to assess the correlation between cognitive and defensive styles.
Main Results:
- Found mixed support for the hypothesized cognition-defense relationship.
- Results indicated that "pure" character types are uncommon.
- Cognitive and defensive styles were found to be positively correlated, contrary to expectations of independence.
Conclusions:
- The study suggests a positive correlation between cognitive and defensive styles.
- The typicality of "pure" character types in cognition and defense requires further research.
- Potential measurement limitations necessitate caution in drawing definitive conclusions.