Jacque’s Case Studies for Attachment Domains and Defenses Domains

Defenses and Defensive Maneuvers Domain 5

Defenses and Defensive Maneuvers Combined Directions and Template

Because of the nature of defenses and defensive maneuvers - it is not possible to put all of them in dimensional form. Thus, some of the responses will be presented in dimensional form as we did with Jacque 1, but the remainder will be put in the form of ratings/rationale that we used on other domains.

Question 1. Identify the situation-specific defensive mechanisms that Jacque uses. I suggest that you write a paragraph which describes each defense mechanism that you believe she uses. Provide your rationale for believing that she uses a particular defense. Note: Jacque uses many defensive mechanisms.

Question 2. One you have completed Question 1, assess the following dimension of Jacque’s defense mechanisms (considering those that you identified in Question 1). Assess the strength and rigidity of her defenses.

Clients vary greatly in the strength or rigidity of their defenses. Come clients are quite well-defended, and they have no awareness of their defenses. Further, their defenses don’t appear to cause them any type of discomfort or distress. Their defenses are said to be “ego-syntonic” because they seem to be “consistent with the person’s fundamental personality and beliefs”. Conversely, some clients are uncomfortable and quite bothered by their defenses, and they experience them as “inconsistent with their basic personality and beliefs”. Additionally, some clients use a wide range of defenses from sophisticated to mid-range to very primitive while others use only primitive defenses, others mainly mid-range, and others mainly sophisticated. The patterns vary greatly. The more primitive defenses that are used, however, the more distortion of reality that occurs. People also differ in their awareness of their defenses and how comfortable they are with their defenses. Some clients are so bothered by their defenses that they choose to give them up by seeking help. Considering what you know about Jacque, decide where to rate the Strength/Rigidity of her Defenses, and provide a rationale for this rating.

Strength/Rigidity of Defenses
Ego-Syntonic Defenses	Ego-Dystonic Disorders
Person is extremely rigid and well- defended; massive protection. No cracks in person’s defensive armor	Rigid and well –defended, but person is occasionally dissatisfied with results of his/her actions	Some cracks in defense; they do not block anxiety consis- tently; client is feeling some anxiety.	Substantive cracks in defenses in specific areas of the person’s life. Defensive behavior is no longer working in many cases. Client is dissatisfied, but is unsure of what to do	Defensive behavior is no longer working. Client aware that change is necessary & client and is dissatisfied. Client motivated to explore defenses/change his/her Behavior.

Rationale for your assessment of the strength/rigidity of her defenses:

Question 3. Look at the list of defenses you generated in Question 1. Consider whether these defenses are mainly sophisticated? Mainly Mid-range? Mainly Primitive? In other words, what type of defenses are they? Evaluate the range of Jacque’s defenses (that you identified in Question 1) according to the categories below, and identify whether you think that Jacque has “much” or “minimal” reality distortion.

Range of Defenses
Much Reality Distortion	Minimal Reality Distortion
All primitive	Mostly primitive; Some mid-level defenses	Mix of primitive and mid-level defenses; an occasional sophisticated defense	Mostly mid-level defenses with some primitive defenses	Mid-level defenses with a few sophisticated defenses	Mix of mid-level defenses & sophisti- cated defenses. Occasional primitive defenses	Mostly sophisticated defenses with some mid-level & occasional primitive defense	Sophisticated defenses with occasional mid-level & primitive defense

Rationale for your rating:

Question 4. How aware is Jacque of her defenses and do they appear to be problematic for her? In other words, is Jacque aware of her defense mechanisms and do they appear to be a problem for her? Indicate a rating and provide a brief rationale for your response.

Awareness of Problematic Nature of Defenses
No awareness, not motivated to understand	Minimal awareness. Rarely sees defensive behavior as a problem & is not motivated to understand them	Basic awareness. Occasionally sees defensive behavior as problematic, but is resistant to understand them	Increasing awareness. Often sees defensive behavior as problematic, but is resistant to understand or change anything	Substantive awareness; often sees defensive behavior as problematic and is willing to explore what is going on

Rationale:

5. We have talked about Jacque most of the semester and have talked about how painful a client’s Core Conflict actually is. The closer one gets to his/her core conflict, the person begins to experience painful anxiety – and often at the center of a person is a core issue that is surrounded by feelings of shame and self-hatred (contempt). What do you believe is Jacque’s Core Conflict is that she hides under her defensive maneuvers and defense mechanisms? This Core Conflict would simply be too painful for her to face openly at this time. In other words, what happened to her in her early childhood interactions with her parents that is too painful for her to face openly?

Rationale:

6. Because of the intensity of Jacque’s core conflict and the intensely painful feelings surrounding the conflict, Jacque has erected a “false self” that is composed of broad, rigid defensive maneuvers (“Rising Above” Interpersonal Coping Strategies for dealing with others) and Intrapersonal Pathological Schemas in which she has turned against herself through splitting (“Turning Against the Self” Strategies). These elaborate defensive maneuvers are so extensive that the “real little-girl Jacque” has gotten covered up by a “false Jacque” with a “false sense of self, others and the world”. In other words, she has lost herself and her voice in the process of trying to protect herself. This happens to individuals with Insecure Attachments and difficult childhood experiences. Write a detailed paragraph explaining how Jacque’s defensive mechanisms protected her from feeling anxiety associated with her core conflict.