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Comparative Study

| Published: May 30, 2017

Relationship between Defense Mechanisms and the Individuation Process among Adults

Dr. Tarika Sandhu

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Psychology, Punjabi University Patiala, India Google Scholar More about the auther

, Nayanika Singh

Research Scholar, Dept. of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, India Google Scholar More about the auther

DIP: DIP 18.01.078/20170403

DOI: 10.25215/0403.078

ABSTRACT

Jung defined individuation as the process by which a person becomes “a psychological in-dividual, that is separate, indivisible unity or whole that begins after the 35th year and is necessary for survival. Freud originally conceived of defense mechanisms as “intra-psychic” mechanisms that mediate the internal struggles between the internalized societal expectations of the super-ego and the instinctual drives of the id. The present investigation was designed to study the relationship between defense mechanisms (mature, neurotic and immature) and the individuation process among adults. Sample for the study consisted of 240 adults, age ranging 40-50 years, having a stable career and married life. Data was collected using questionnaires pertaining to the variables from Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula and Solan. Since, it is the first of its kind attempt in the Indian context to provide elusive character to the construct of individuation, the index for individuation consisted of a cumulative score of self-concept, ego strength and inner-directedness. The study consisted of three hypotheses: 1) Mature defense mechanisms will have a positive significant relationship with the individuation process. 2) Neurotic defense mechanisms will have a negative significant relationship with the individuation process. 3) Immature defense mechanisms will have a negative significant relationship with the individuation process.  Statistical analysis was done using Pearson’s product moment correlation to study the relationship between defense mechanisms and the individuation process.  Results indicated that mature defense mechanisms were found to have positive significant relationship with the individuation process, thereby proving our first hypothesis. Whereas both neurotic and immature defense mechanisms were found to have a positive but non – significant relationship with the individuation process, due to which hypothesis two and three were rejected. However, more studies need to be conducted to validate the construct of Individuation process in the Indian context.

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Dr. Tarika Sandhu @ nanikasingh@gmail.com

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Article Overview

ISSN 2348-5396

ISSN 2349-3429

DIP 18.01.078/20170403

10.25215/0403.078

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Published in   Volume 04, Issue 3, April-June, 2017