title: Defense mechanisms development in typical children.
abstract: The defense mechanisms (DMs) of 103 nonreferred children ages 47 to 102 months were assessed through dollhouse play. The authors measured the children's temperament (Temperament Assessment Battery for Children-Teacher Form [TABC]) and verbal capacities (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence or Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children). Four main findings were derived: (1) DM use decreased with age with different developmental trajectories; (2) regression, displacement, and reaction formation were more frequent in girls and denial more frequent in boys; (3) the number of DMs used was negatively associated with the TABC Adaptability score and positively with the TABC Approach/Withdrawal score; and (4) children who used rationalization and did not use identification and suppression scored better on verbal capacities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. tallandi@units.it
authors.forename: Maria Anna
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tallandini
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caudek
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012737:Sex Factors; D013694:Temperament; D014888:Wechsler Scales