The book is focused on defense mechanisms as theoretical constructs as well as the possibilities of their empirical registration by different methods, and the application of these constructs in different fields of psychology with special regard to concurrent and predictive validity. It is argued that defense mechanisms are in many ways to be seen as integrative constructs, not necessarily restricted to psychoanalytic theory and that the potential fields of their application have a wide ranging scope, comprising many fields of psychology. Consequently empirical studies are presented from the...

Die Erforschung der bio-psycho-sozialen Grundlagen der Medizin wird zunehmend notwendiger, weil die reine Beschrankung auf korperliche Aspekte von Krankheit nicht mehr dem Panoramawandel in der Medizin entspricht. Mit dem Einzug der Technologie in die medizinische Diagnostik wird fur den modernen Arzt die Beziehung zum Patienten wieder wichtiger. Fur die Forschung ergibt sich ein neues Spektrum von ungelosten Grundlagenproblemen. Das Buch fuhrt in einige Grundlagenprobleme der Medizinischen Psychologie, Medizinischen Soziologie und Psychotherapie/Psychosomatik ein."

What is the scientific status and the "truth value" of the concept of defense mechanisms? Among contemporary psychologists, three types of answers to this question may be expected. Some would wholeheartedly endorse the theoretical, clinical, and research value of this notion; others would reject it outright. Between these two extremes, a large number of observers, perhaps the majority, would suspend their judgment. Their attitude, compounded of hope and doubt, would capitalize on defense as an interesting and promising concept. At the same time, these psy chologists would express skepticism...