MECHANISMS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFENSE AND COPING STRATEGIES OF ADOLESCENTS WITH SCOLIOSIS: EMPIRICAL RESEARCH

The aim of the article is to examine military black humor as a form of adaptive processes and the individual�s response to the fear of death in the system of psychological defense mechanisms and coping strategies. A more complete results in this study can be gotten through the integration of discourse analysis and psychoanalytic interpretation. Discourse analysis has the most empirically oriented approach and allows to focus on extensive psychological issues such as cognition, emotions, attitudes, values, prejudices, memory, motives. Psychoanalytic interpretation focuses on the symbolism of the unconscious, universal meanings and psychological mechanisms that are important material to analyze totality of derived psychological meanings present in dark humor patterns. The material for this empirical, inductive study is text fragments, memes and photographs, which are posted on the website of �Military service� Ukrainian group. Results and discussions. One of the thematic dominants of military dark humor is the threat to life and fear of it. The fear of death itself is one of the human existence conditions. Such amount of fear fits into bounds of what most humans can psychologically tolerate that does not destroy or paralyze activity. In order to protect his psyche from the destructive effects of traumatic situation during which the norms of fear exceed the standards, a military man often seeks to restore the functional state of his body and reduce emotional stress. Considering this perspective as a pragmatic aspect of humor it can be argued that the creation of the game reality of death in dark humor depends, first of all, on those coping strategies and psychological defense mechanisms, which are most appropriate for a person�s psyche. According to the terror management theory an individual uses certain coping strategies and defense mechanisms depending on whether or not he is aware of the inevitability of death. Analysis of the dark humor patterns created by the Ukrainian military and actualizing the theme of death and everything associated with it make it possible to outline the following range of adaptive mechanisms ranked in a descending order according to their relative importance in the total sample: �Desacralization�, �Regression�, �Desensitization�, �Positive re-evaluation�, �Displacement�, �Sublimation�, �Denial�. Conclusions. Being natural human emotion fear of death during combat activates defense mechanisms and coping strategies. The study of the projection of these occurrences in dark humor have made it possible to conclude that the military dark humor is the result of frustrating life experiences and aimed to reduce sensitivity to fears and improve their psychological state. This is achieved owing to changing the modal evaluation and the capability to be emotionally withdrawn.

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Peculiarities of the mechanisms of psychological defense and coping strategies among teenagers with different types of parenting

Психолог ◽

10.25136/2409-8701.2020.4.33564 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 60-73

Author(s):

Antonina Vladimirovna Shabaeva ◽

Galina Vladimirovna Mitina ◽

Ramilya Magadievna Davletshina

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Defense Mechanisms ◽

Defense Mechanism ◽

Family Relationship ◽

Coping Behavior ◽

Diagnostic Techniques ◽

Psychological Defense ◽

Different Types ◽

Scientific Facts ◽

And Coping

The goal of this article is to examine the psychological defense mechanisms and coping strategies of teenagers with different types of parenting. The subject of this research is the mechanisms of psychological defense and coping strategies of teenagers with different types of ubpringing. The empirical object of the research became the sample of 72 teenagers (36 girls and 28 boys), aged 14 to 15, as well as 72 parents (mothers). Based on the results of empirical research, the author acquired scientific facts on specificity of using psychological defense mechanisms and coping strategies by teenagers with different types of parenting. The research program contains diagnostic techniques of parenting strategies, family relationship, mechanism of psychological defense of personality, and coping strategies. The statistical analysis was carried out using the parametric student's T-test. The scientific facts obtained in the course of study broaden the perspective on teenagers and possibilities of rendering them psychological assistance within the framework of non-constructive forms of coping strategies and coping behavior. The following conclusions were made: 1) teenagers raised by authoritarian parents try to avoid contact with reality and solution of the arising problems, they usually use the psychological defense mechanism “compensation”; 2) teenagers from the families with democratic parenting often use the psychological defense mechanism “intellectualization” and coping the strategy for solving problems; 3) the peculiarity of hyperprotective parenting forms the psychological defense mechanism “substitution” and coping strategy of avoiding problems; 4) pandering type of parenting results in manifestation of the desire to avoid contact with surrounding reality and solution of the problems, the most widespread strategy of coping behavior among such teenagers is “avoidance”.

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The Self-Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis (SEMS) Scale

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000350 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (5) ◽

pp. 352-360 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Silvia Bonino ◽

Federica Graziano ◽

Martina Borghi ◽

Davide Marengo ◽

Giorgia Molinengo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Measurement Invariance ◽

Sense Of Coherence ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Concurrent Validity ◽

Rasch Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

And Coping

Abstract. This research developed a new scale to evaluate Self-Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis (SEMS). The aim of this study was to investigate dimensionality, item functioning, measurement invariance, and concurrent validity of the SEMS scale. Data were collected from 203 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (mean age, 39.5 years; 66% women; 95% having a relapsing remitting form of MS). Fifteen items of the SEMS scale were submitted to patients along with measures of psychological well-being, sense of coherence, depression, and coping strategies. Data underwent Rasch analysis and correlation analysis. Rasch analysis indicates the SEMS as a multidimensional construct characterized by two correlated dimensions: goal setting and symptom management, with satisfactory reliability coefficients. Overall, the 15 items reported acceptable fit statistics; the scale demonstrated measurement invariance (with respect to gender and disease duration) and good concurrent validity (positive correlations with psychological well-being, sense of coherence, and coping strategies and negative correlations with depression). Preliminary evidence suggests that SEMS is a psychometrically sound measure to evaluate perceived self-efficacy of MS patients with moderate disability, and it would be a valuable instrument for both research and clinical applications.

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