A Study on Psychological Ego Defense Mecanisms Differences Among Age Groups

In order to analyse differeatial ego defense mechanisms among age groups classified by developmlental stages, the present study evaluated the results of Ewha Defense Mechanism test which had been completed on June, 1990. The number of subjects were 1,323 normal adults and students with 14~70 age range, who were selected by the proportional straitified sampling method based on sex, age, educational level and residence status of 1985 National Population and Residence Statistics Data.

Results of the present study were as follows :

1) There was statistically significant differences among age groups on show-off, reaction formation, identification, passive-aggressive, projection, displacement, denial, suppression, anticipation, rationalization, dissociation, sublimation, acting-out, altruism, regression, humor, evasion scales.

2) The younger age group had higher scores on show-off, reaction formation, identification, passive-aggrssive, projection, displacment, dissociation, sublimation, acting-out, regression scales and more older, more higher on denial, supression, anticipation, rationalization, altruism, evasion scales.

3) The female subjects got higher scores on show-off identification, projection, displacement, denial, dissociation, somatization, regression and the male subjects presented higher scores on altruism, humor scales. The interation effects of age and sex were not found on any scales.

4) It was found that the older group did not get high score on mature defense mechanism scales in case of classified by maturity criteria.

5) On factor 1 scales of acting-out, displacement, somatization, dissociation, projection, passive-aggressive scales, the younger group presented higher score and the older group had higher score on denial, rationalization, supression, anticipication, evasion scales which were attribute to stablity and adjustment by factor analysis interpretation.