Towards an understanding of defense style in terms of temperament and character.
The aim was to investigate the relationships between a model of personality based on the concept of defense mechanisms, as articulated by Vaillant, with the psychobiological model of personality, as developed by Cloninger. A total of 128 adults from 11 family pedigrees with at least two alcohol-dependent members completed the self-report Defense Style Questionnaire and the Temperament and Character Inventory. Immature defenses were largely explained by low character scores, while neurotic defenses were part temperament and part character. Cluster A, B and C defenses were related to low reward dependence, high novelty-seeking and high harm avoidance respectively. In a regression analysis, cluster B and C defenses were more related to low character scores than to temperament but, for cluster A defenses, temperament and character both contributed. The results suggest that it is possible to integrate an ego defense model of personality with a psychobiological model of personality, thereby enriching both approaches.
Mulder
R T
RT
University Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, New Zealand.
Joyce
P R
PR
Sellman
J D
JD
Sullivan
P F
PF
Cloninger
C R
CR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D002605:Character; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010553:Personality Development; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D013694:Temperament