The book is focused on defense mechanisms as theoretical constructs as well as the possibilities of their empirical registration by different methods, and the application of these constructs in different fields of psychology with special regard to concurrent and predictive validity. It is argued that defense mechanisms are in many ways to be seen as integrative constructs, not necessarily restricted to psychoanalytic theory and that the potential fields of their application have a wide ranging scope, comprising many fields of psychology. Consequently empirical studies are presented from the fields of clinical and personality psychology, psychotherapy research and psychosomatic phenomena and diseases. Methodological questions have a heavy weight in most of these studies. - Provides coverage of relevant literature - Covers different fields of application - Attempts an integration of the contstruct of defense mechanisms into mainstream psychology - Provides explanations of the theoretical basis of the construct of defense mechanisms

The idea that the human mind-that faculty of the intellect which we use to define and discern the truth-might also be used to deceive itself is not new. The classic orator Demosthenes warned of this possibility in 349 B.C. when he wrote that "Nothing is more easy than to deceive one's self; what a man wishes he generally believes to be true." 1 Even Jean Jacques Rousseau, who suggested the possibility of man as "noble savage," alerts us to this paradox, when he writes "Jamais fa nature ne nous trompe; c'est toujours nous qui nous trompons" ("Nature never deceives us; it is always we who deceive ourselves). 2 But it was Sigmund Freud who placed this idea firmly into the field of psychopathology and then, later, into a general psychological theory. According to Freud, understanding the function of a defense mechanism means not only fathoming the origin of pathological symptoms but also comprehending a model of the mind that includes both conscious and unconscious mental processes. From this initial focus on the general process of defense, Freud and his followers went on to identify various forms this process might take, with the result that today we have a list of 3 more than 37 defense mechanisms described in the literature.

What is the scientific status and the "truth value" of the concept of defense mechanisms? Among contemporary psychologists, three types of answers to this question may be expected. Some would wholeheartedly endorse the theoretical, clinical, and research value of this notion; others would reject it outright. Between these two extremes, a large number of observers, perhaps the majority, would suspend their judgment. Their attitude, compounded of hope and doubt, would capitalize on defense as an interesting and promising concept. At the same time, these psy chologists would express skepticism and disappointment over its clinical limitations, theoretical ambiguity, and research failures. The present volume is primarily addressed to the audience of hopeful skeptics-those who have not given up on the notion of defense, yet have been frustrated by the difficulties of incorporating it into the modern, streamlined structure of psychology. To this end, we have brought together theoretical and empirical contributions germane to defense together with reports about their applications to clinical and personality assessment, especially in relation to psychopathology, psychosomatics, and psycho therapeutic intervention.

`[The client material]... stimulated thought and reflection... Clark presented a large number of very tricky case studies and illustrated all manner of different and interesting ways of responding to clients who find it difficult to engage with the process of counselling. Furthermore, this is done in the framework of a model of counselling which integrates humanistic, psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioural theories in a most interesting and convincing way. In the end, I learned quite a lot and found myself pondering the case histories days later' - Counselling, The Journal of the British Association for Counselling The understanding of defence mechanisms is vital to counsellors and psychotherapists, particula

"...how a man rallies to life's challenges and weathers its storms tells everything of who he is and all that he is likely to become." —St. Augustine It has long been understood that how a person adjusts to life stresses is a major component of his or her ability to lead a fulfilling life. Yet it wasn't until the 1960s that coping became a discrete topic of psychological inquiry. Since then, coping has risen to a position of prominence in the modern psychological discourse—especially within the personality, cognitive, and behavioral spheres—and, within the past decade alone, many important discoveries have been made about its mechanisms and functioning, and its role in ongoing psychological and physical health and well-being. A book whose time has come at last, the Handbook of Coping is the first professional reference devoted exclusively to the psychology of coping. Reporting the observations and insights of nearly sixty leading authorities in stress and coping from a wide range of affiliations and schools of thought, it brings readers the state of the art in coping theory, research, assessment, and applications. In orchestrating the book, the editors have scrupulously avoided imposing any particular slant or point of view, other than the need to foster greater eclecticism and cooperation between researchers and clinicians concerned with the phenomenon of coping. The Handbook of Coping is divided into five overlapping parts, the first of which serves to lay the conceptual foundations of all that follows. It traces the history of coping from its origins in psychoanalytic theories of unconscious defense mechanisms, and provides an exhaustive review of the latest conceptualizations, models, and constructs. The following section provides an in-depth exploration of current research methodology, measurement, and assessment tools. Part Three explores key facets of coping in a broad range of specific domains, including everyday hassles, chronic disease, cataclysmic events, and many others. The penultimate section focuses on individual differences. Among important topics covered here are coping styles and dispositions; the role of family, social support, and education; and coping behaviors across the life span. The final section, Part Five, is devoted to current applications. Clinical parameters are defined and a number of specific interventions are described, as are proven techniques for helping clients to improve their coping skills. A comprehensive guide to contemporary coping theory, research, and applications, the Handbook of Coping is an indispensable resource for practitioners, researchers, students, and educators in psychology, the health sciences, and epidemiology. Of related interest ... EGO DEFENSES: Theory and Measurement —Edited by Hope R. Conte and Robert Plutchik This book explores the nature and manifestations of defense mechanisms and traces ego defense theory and research from Freud's initial conceptualization through recent work in object-relations theory and other psychoanalytically oriented approaches. It provides clinical guidelines for diagnosing, assessing, and dealing with defenses, reviews empirical research techniques, and indicates their value in development and in psychotherapy. This volume should be of value to theoreticians, clinicians, and researchers interested in finding appropriate tools for measurement of defense mechanisms. 1994 SOCIAL SUPPORT: An Interactional View —Edited by Barbara R. Sarason, Irwin G. Sarason, and Gregory R. Pierce The study of social support and its relationship to personality, health, and adjustment is one of the fastest growing areas of research and application in psychology. This book contains integrative surveys of clinical and field studies, experimental investigations, and life-span explorations. It approaches social support as an important facet of interpersonal relationships and shows its undesirable, as well as its positive, features. 1990 (0-471-60624-3) 528 pp.

Integrating theory, research, and applications, this book examines the defense mechanisms and their role in both normal development and psychopathology. It describes how children and adults mobilize specific kinds of defenses to maintain their psychological equilibrium and preserve self-esteem, particularly in situations of trauma or stress.

Includes specific applications of diagnostic and psychotherapeutic considerations for the spectrum of disorders included in the DSMTM. * Uses a "person-in-environment" context unique among books about the DSM-IV-TRTM. * Written by a professor who has taught thousands of students and clinicians across the country the basics of DSMTM in preparation for the licensing exam.

This volume is about a particular kind of story-telling. Known as the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), it is a systematic approach to story-telling that provides clinicians with an effective method for investigating those original and highly personal themes that constitute the unique personality of each individual. The first half of the book illuminates the meaning of narratives and the second half explores their implications for therapeutic understanding and treatment. Topics covered include: The history and development of the TAT The importance of context in storytelling How stories are transformed over time What narratives may reveal about personality organization How narratives may alter according to age, gender, or as a result of defense mechanisms The use of the TAT for research studies

Now in its Seventh Edition, this psychiatric and mental health nursing text covers both care of patients with psychiatric disorders and the psychosocial aspects of physiological disorders. Geared toward LPN/LVN students, the book's format reflects the nursing model and the shift of psychiatric nursing care from hospitals to community-based settings . New content includes care planning and psychotropic drug monitoring and the DSM-IV-TR. Other features include an increased emphasis on com munication, and a family and resource support list that includes selec ted Web resources. End-of-chapter review questions allow the reader to balance knowledge-based, analysis and application questions. The Anci llary package consists of a printed Instructor's Manual and Test Bank on disk.