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.

Abstract

Abwehrmechanismen (AMs) von 103 nicht überwiesenen Kindern im Alter von 47 bis 102 Monaten wurden mit dem Puppenhaus-Spiel gemessen. Die Autoren erfassten das Temperament der Kinder (Temperament Assessment Battery for Children-Teacher Form [TABC]) und deren verbales Leistungsvermögen (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence oder Wechsler Intelligenz Skala für Kinder). Vier Hauptergebnisse wurden abgeleitet: (1) der Gebrauch von AMs nahm mit zunehmendem Alter mit unterschiedlichen Entwicklungsverläufen ab; (2) Regression, Verschiebung und Reaktionsbildung traten vermehrt bei Mädchen auf, Verneinung dagegen vermehrt bei Jungen; (3) die Anzahl der verwendeten AMs stand in negativem Zusammenhang mit dem TABC Anpassungswert (Adaptability score) und im positiven Zusammenhang mit dem TABC Annäherung/Rückzugswert (Approach/Withdrawal score); und (4) Kinder, die Rationalisierung verwendeten und keine Identifikation und Unterdrückung, hatten höhere Werte im verbalen Leistungsvermögen.

RÉSUMÉ

Les mécanismes de defense (DMs) de 103 enfants non consultants âgés de 47 à 102 mois ont été évalués à l'aide du jeu de la maison de poupée. Les auteurs ont mesuré le tempérament de l'enfant (batterie d’évaluation du tempérament_forme pour l'enseignant [TABC]) et les capacités verbales (échelle de Wechsler). Quatre résultats principaux ont été mis en évidence: (1) l'utilisation de DMs diminuaient avec l’âge selon différentes trajectoires développementales; (2) la régression, le déplacement et la formation réactionnelle étaient les plus fréquents chez les filles et le déni plus fréquent chez les garçons; (3) Le nombre de DMs utilisés était associé négativement avec le score d'adaptabilité du TABC et associé positivement avec le score d'approche/évitement du TABC; enfin (4) les enfants qui utilisaient la rationalisation et n'utilisaient pas l'identification et la suppression avaient des scores de capacité verbale plus élevés.

Abstract

I meccanismi di difesa (MDs) di 103 bambini non patologici di età compresa tra 47 e i 102 mesi sono stati valutati attraverso il gioco della casa delle bambole. Gli autori misurano il temperamento dei bambini (Temperament Assessment Battery for Children_Teacher Form [TABC]) e le capacità verbali (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence or Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children). Quattro conclusioni sono state raggiunte: 1)l'uso dell'MD è diminuita con l'età evolutiva in relazione a diverse traiettorie; (2) la regressione, lo spostamento, e le reazione sono stati più frequenti nelle femmine mentre le negazione erano più frequenti nei ragazzi; (3) il numero delle MD utilizzato era associato negativamente con la TABC e tra il punteggio di adattabilità e TABC; e (4) i bambini che hanno utilizzato maggiormente la razionalizzazione e non l'identificazione e la repressione hanno acquisito delle capacità verbali migliori.

Keywords:

• childhood
• defense mechanisms
• temperament
• verbal intelligence

Parole chiave:

• bambini
• meccanismi di difesa
• temperamento
• intelligenza verbale

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by The Tavistock Medical School (London) and Ministero Istruzione, Università Ricerca (Rome). We wish to thank Paola Dario, Elisa Pavan, and Cristina Suplina for their contributions in data collection and coding. We wish to thank the two anonymous reviewes for their valuable comments and suggestions on a previous version of this manuscript.

Notes

1. Note, however, that the DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) uses the terms defense mechanisms and coping mechanisms interchangeably to refer to both defense mechanisms and coping styles, although the overlapping of these two concepts is disputed (Erdelyi, 2001).