Attachment-related psychodynamics

Because there has been relatively little communication and cross-fertilization between the two major lines of research on adult attachment, one based on coded narrative assessments of defensive processes, the other on simple self-reports of ‘attachment style’ in close relationships, we here explain and review recent work based on a combination of self-report and other kinds of method, including behavioral observations and unconscious priming techniques. The review indicates that considerable progress has been made in testing central hypotheses derived from attachment theory and in exploring unconscious, psychodynamic processes related to affect-regulation and attachment-system activation. The combination of self-report assessment of attachment style and experimental manipulation of other theoretically pertinent variables allows researchers to test causal hypotheses. We present a model of normative and individual-difference processes related to attachment and identify areas in which further research is needed and likely to be successful. One long-range goal is to create a more complete theory of personality built on attachment theory and other object relations theories.     

Relationship between Defenses,Personality, and Affect During a Stress Task in Normal Adolescents

Objective Although there are extensive data on the relationship between personality and stress reactivity in adults, there is little comparable empirical research with adolescents. This study examines the simultaneous relationships between long term functioning (personality, defenses) and observed stress reactivity (affect) in adolescents. Methods High school students (N = 169; mean age 16; 73 girls) were asked to participate in two conditions of the Stress Induced Speech Task (SIST): Free Association and Stressful Situation. Immature and mature defenses, distress and restraint personality dimensions, and negative and positive affect were examined. Results Greater reported use of immature defenses was significantly associated with negative affect, whereas greater reported use of mature defenses was significantly associated with greater positive affect. Although personality style was also a significant predictor of negative affect across two out of three conditions, defenses were better overall predictors of affect than were personality dimensions. Gender was also a significant predictor of negative affect, wherein girls reported more negative affect than boys. Discussion Defenses and personality style predict affective response during a moderately stressful task. Immature defenses and, to a lesser extent, the distress personality dimension predict mobilization of negative affect, whereas mature defenses predict the reporting of positive affect. These results relate to processes central to psychotherapy: defensive responding, personality style, and affective reactivity during the recounting of stressful events.     

复发性生殖器疱疹患者心理防御方式的调查分析

目的 调查复发性生殖器疱疹患者(relapsing genital herpes,RGH)的心理防御方式.方法 采用防御方式问卷(DSQ)对160例RGH患者进行测查,并与80例正常人作对照组进行比较分析.结果 RGH患者不成熟防御方式明显高于对照组人群(P＜0.01),成熟防御、中间防御及掩饰因子与正常人比较无明显差异(P＞0 05).结论 RGH患者的心理防御方式存在异常.     

Approche clinique et psychopathologique du burn out : discussion à partir de la psychodynamique du travail

AimThis article aims to discuss the semiological and etiological aspects of burnout from the analysis of the psychological processes involved in the encounter with work, in particular, care work.MethodThe discussion highlights the central place of the subjective relationship to work in the genesis of disorders designated as burnout. In particular, the concepts of recognition, hyperactivity, and sublimation are discussed.ResultsThe analyses highlight the role of the psychological motivations of subjects’ engagement in work, both from an individual and also a collective point of view, and their relationship with the risk of psychopathological decompensation.DiscussionThe discussion suggests that the hyperactive subjective relationship to work might be an important intermediate link in the etiology of situations relating to burnout. Practical implications of listening to patients’ discourse about work in clinical settings are also considered.ConclusionThe elucidation of the psychopathological issues linked to burnout is based on an etiological approach that is able to take into account the nature of the suffering and the psychic processes involved in the work situation.     

Adolescent Humor and its Relationship to Coping,Defense Strategies,Psychological Distress,and Well-Being

Objective This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ) in measuring adolescent humor, including the relationship between humor and coping style, defense style, depressive symptoms, and adjustment in a non-clinical sample of adolescents. Method Humor, coping, defense strategies, depressive symptoms, and adjustment were investigated in 94 adolescents aged 12–15. Results The HSQ demonstrated adequate internal consistency. Inter-scale correlational patterns and scale means were similar for adolescents and adults. Convergent validity for the HSQ was supported by its relationship to: an adolescent-standardized humor defense scale; coping and defense strategies; and depressive symptoms and adjustment. Clinical utility of the HSQ was demonstrated by its unique contribution in predicting both depressive symptoms and adjustment above and beyond contributions from coping and defense composites. Discussion The HSQ appears to be a psychometrically sound and clinically useful measure to assess humor dimensions in adolescents.     

Adolescent Defense Style and Life Stressors

This study examines the relationship between stressful life events and defense mechanisms. Eighty seven female adolescent patients completed the Adolescent Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes (A-FILE) assessing stressors in six domains of family life, and the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ) assessing 19 defense mechanisms grouped into Immature, Prosocial, and Mature clusters. Increasing stressors are significantly positively correlated with a more immature defense style. Results support the hypothesis that there is an iterative relationship between immature defenses and life stressors. These findings are compatible with a regression model of defense functioning and complement our previous results linking defenses to temperament.     

Life events and increase in immature defense style during transition to adulthood

People use psychological defenses to prevent anxiety from forcing its way to consciousness. In normal maturation, the previously developmentally immature defenses tend to decrease. Increase in immature defense style has been found to predict mental disturbance among young adults, but the association of life events with this increase is unknown. We investigated whether increase in immature defenses in transition to young adulthood would associate with life events occurring during that time period. The subjects comprised 636 high school adolescents:young adults (408 females, 228 males), who completed questionnaires in 1990 and 1995. Subjects (27% of females and 21% of males) reporting increase in immature defense style as assessed with the Defense Style Questionnaire were compared with the other subjects in terms of life events. No associations were found, except the marginal association of serious illness of a close person among females. Among these high school students the development of immature defense style tended to be independent of life events during transition to adulthood.     

神经症患者的防御机制与个性特质及症状表现的相关性

目的探讨神经症患者的防御机制特点与症状及个性间的关系。方法使用防御方式问卷（DSQ）、艾森克人格测定（EPQ）和90项症状自评量表（SCL-90）,对43例神经症患者和33倒正常对照者进行评估,比较两组间DSQ评分的差异,分析神经症患者DSQ评分与SCL-90和EQP评分间的相关性。结果神经症患者DSQ因子1分显著高于正常对照者．其中投射、被动攻击、潜意显现、退缩机制、幻想、躯体化分显著增高;DSQ因子2分显著低正常对照组,其中压抑和幽默分显著减低。相关分析显示DSQ因子1分与SCL-90各因子分呈正相关,与EPQ神经质因子分显著正相关,而与精神质因子分显著负相关;DSQ因子2分与EPQ精神质呈负相关。结论神经症患者较多地采用不成熟的防御机制,这种不成熟防御机制可能与患者的某种个性特质和精神症状表现有关。