Defense mechanisms in alexithymia.
The Polish version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 and Defense Mechanisms Questionnaire were completed by 387 university students. Scores on alexithymia correlate significantly with scores on the whole group of 12 immature defenses (Pearson r = .39, p < .001) and with scores on such individual immature defense mechanisms as Autistic Fantasy (r = .39), Somatization (r = .37), Projection (r = .32), and Displacement (r = .32). These results support other findings indicating that alexithymia is significantly associated with immature ego defenses.
Bogutyn
T
T
Department of Clinical Psychology, Rydygier Hospital, Cracow, Poland.
Kokoszka
A
A
Pałczyński
J
J
Holas
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires