Choice of Defense Mechanisms and Their Relationship to Mood Level

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Abstract
Preferences for defense mechanisms as measured by the Defense Mechanism Inventory were related to average mood level as assessed in normal Ss over a 30-day period. As predicted, males ( n = 23) who tended to prefer defense mechanisms centering around denial, repression, and intellectualization tended to be less depressed, more energetic, and less angry than males who preferred to act out their frustrations against others. Furthermore, as predicted, mood level was more likely to be related to the cognitive, as opposed to the action, component of the defense mechanism. No relationships were found between preference for defense mechanisms and mood level by the 32 women.

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