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Immature Defenses

Maladaptive Defense Mechanisms

BY: T. Franklin Murphy | August 7, 2022

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We all use psychological strategies to soften the impact of experience. These strategies are referred to as defense mechanisms in psychology. Sigmund Freud popularized the concept of unconscious processes that dictated outward behaviors. His sixth child, Anna Freud, followed in Freud's footsteps. In 1937, Anna Freud published The Ego and Mechanisms of Defense.

Defense mechanisms is not only a fundamental part of psychanalytical nomenclature but a part of our everyday language. In 1981, John Cristopher Perry developed the Defense Mechanism Rating Scale (DMRS), which organized the variety of defenses into easy to use categories for physicians and therapists.

The DMRS scores patients on 30 different defenses, placing the defenses into three categories: mature defenses, neurotic defenses, and immature defenses (Murphy, 2021). The categories are on a continuum from most adaptive to pathological.

The three categories (mature, neurotic, and immature) are further divided into seven levels based on the adaptiveness of the mechanism. The four levels of least adaptive mechanisms compose the list of immature defenses.

Key Definition:

Immature Defenses, according to the Defense Mechanism Rating Scale, are the four levels of least adaptive defense mechanisms. There are fifteen identified mechanisms labeled immature defenses.

Defenses Developmentally Mediated

We are not just born with a style of defense mechanisms. Our responses to environmental stressors is formed through learning. Like most other psychological phenomenon, there is a complex and dynamic interplay between environments and biological factors (epigenetics, reciprocal determinism) in creation of defense mechanism styles.

Just like our bodies and cognitive abilities develop with age so does defense mechanisms. Immature defenses may be normative at one stage of development but become increasingly problematic with age (Araujo, Ryst, & Steiner, 2004).

For a variety of reasons, the immature defense mechanisms of childhood may stick, and individuals fail to develop more adaptive reactions to stressful inner states. When this happens the defensive reaction may still mitigate the heightened emotional arousal but also interfere with adaptive behavioral responses.

"Adaptive defenses usually maximize awareness of affective mental states, allowing an individual to adaptively modulate the expression and gratification of personal needs and desires" (Cavalera, et al. 2022). The underlying goal is to survive and flourish. Adaptive defense mechanisms not only mitigate powerful emotions, keeping them within a window of tolerance, but also allow enough awareness of internal states and external realities to penetrate protections and allow adaptive responses to the underlying problems.

"Less adaptive or immature defenses may involve distortions in the internal representations of self, others, or external reality, and keep potentially threatening ideas, feelings, memories, wishes or fears out of one's awareness" (2022). The complete blindness that immature defenses create may suppress arousal but fail to motivate healthy behavioral responses that lead to growth and long term problem resolution.

The Immature Defenses

Level 4

Minor Image Distorting Defenses:

Idealization of Self-Image
Idealization of Other's Image
Devaluation of Self-Image
Devaluation of Other's Image
Omnipotence

Level 3

Disavowal Defenses:

Denial
Rationalization
Projection
Autistic Fantasy

Level 2

Major Image Distorting Defenses:

Splitting of Self-Image
Splitting of Other's Image
Projective Identification

Level 1

Action Defenses:

Passive-Aggression
Help-Rejecting Complaining
Acting Out (2021)

Immature Defense Mechanisms and Psychological Disorders

Studies and research has shown that the extensive use of immature, maladaptive defense mechanisms impacts mental health. "The use of immature and neurotic defense mechanisms was found to have significant relationship with stress, negative emotions, somatic complaints, avoidant personal trait, antisocial personality trait, mood disorder, panic disorder, personality disorder, alcohol use and anger" (Bedel, 2019).

The use of immature defenses in adults is concerning and often suggest deeper underlying unresolved issues.

A Few Final Words

The unconscious and employed protective mechanisms are a fascinating realm in psychology. Often penetrating beneath the protections with awareness is an avenue to healing.

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T. Franklin Murphy

Wellness. Writer. Researcher.
T. Franklin Murphy has a degree in psychology. He tirelessly researches scientific findings that contribute to wellness. In 2010, he began publishing his findings.