رابطه بین استفاده از دفاع و رفتار سازشی

In two studies we examine the association between a person’s pattern of defense use, assessed by a new measure called the Defense-Q, and their adaptive behavior. We compare each person’s Defense-Q profile to a theoretical Adaptive Defense Profile (ADP) to obtain an ADP similarity score. In Study 1 we show in a student sample that ADP similarity scores are positively related to observed empathy and competence and negatively to hostility. In Study 2 we demonstrate in a population-based community sample that ADP similarity scores are positively related to nurse’s ratings of competence and nutritional based weight control programs and negatively related to hostility, depression, alcohol use, and weight control through the use of pills. These results suggest that defense use is related to adaptive behavior in a theoretically consistent manner, and that the Defense-Q shows promise as an observer-based instrument to assess defenses.