Contemporary attachment researchers claim that attachment-anxiety is associated with a hyperactiv... more Contemporary attachment researchers claim that attachment-anxiety is associated with a hyperactivating defense strategy while attachment-avoidance is associated with a deactivating defense strategy. However, to date, no study has comprehensively examined the basic patterns of specific defense expression in the two dimensions of attachment insecurity (anxiety/avoidance). To address this research gap, the current study aimed to assess the character defenses associated with attachment-avoidance and attachment-anxiety, incorporating a broad spectrum of psychological defenses. The main objective was to understand what differentiates attachment-avoidance and attachment-anxiety in defensive functioning. In this study of online questionnaire design (N = 250), university undergraduates aged between 17 to 65 completed the Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR) and the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-60). The results show that the two dimensions of insecure attachment exhibit different...
Attention has recently been drawn to the dark side of creativity. We provided an exploratory stud... more Attention has recently been drawn to the dark side of creativity. We provided an exploratory study (N 226) of how the Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) correlated with two measures of creativity (i.e., Kaufman Domains of Creativity Scale and Creative Achievement Questionnaire). Those high in narcissism reported being more creative than most people, an association that may reflect narcissistic self-delusions of popularity and charm. We found self-reported success in humor was correlated with narcissism and psychopathy scores. Those high in psychopathy also reported better mechanical and lower scholarly skills than most, which may relate to their vocational interest in practical/realistic work. Machiavellianism accounted for little variance in creativity. Individual differences in the Dark Triad traits mediated sex differences in various aspects of creativity, suggesting sex differences in some aspects of creativity may be partially confounded by sex differences in the Dark Triad traits.
Those high in the Dark Triad traits, i.e. narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism are often... more Those high in the Dark Triad traits, i.e. narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism are often painted as either the "villains" or the "perpetrators". The consensus of personality research thus far is that these traits function by playing offense. Nonetheless, there is scope to understand the defensive stance of these traits. In this online questionnaire design study ( N=. 244) the relationship between the Dark Triad traits, defensive strategies and stress were investigated by correlational analysis. Unique associations with stress and defensive functioning depict individual differences in the Dark triad traits. Acting out, dissociation and splitting were the defenses that all three traits had in common; and all three traits were correlated with the use of an immature defensive strategy. An important novel finding of this present study was that an immature defensive strategy was found to mediate the relationship between Machiavellianism and stress. This brings us closer to understanding the psychological makeup of this trait. Applications are discussed within a clinical framework and the case is presented for a focus on theory of psychological defense to be adopted when working with such clientele.
Contemporary attachment researchers claim that attachment-anxiety is associated with a hyperactiv... more Contemporary attachment researchers claim that attachment-anxiety is associated with a hyperactivating defense strategy while attachment-avoidance is associated with a deactivating defense strategy. However, to date, no study has comprehensively examined the basic patterns of specific defense expression in the two dimensions of attachment insecurity (anxiety/avoidance). To address this research gap, the current study aimed to assess the character defenses associated with attachment-avoidance and attachment-anxiety, incorporating a broad spectrum of psychological defenses. The main objective was to understand what differentiates attachment-avoidance and attachment-anxiety in defensive functioning. In this study of online questionnaire design (N = 250), university undergraduates aged between 17 to 65 completed the Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR) and the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-60). The results show that the two dimensions of insecure attachment exhibit different...
Attention has recently been drawn to the dark side of creativity. We provided an exploratory stud... more Attention has recently been drawn to the dark side of creativity. We provided an exploratory study (N 226) of how the Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) correlated with two measures of creativity (i.e., Kaufman Domains of Creativity Scale and Creative Achievement Questionnaire). Those high in narcissism reported being more creative than most people, an association that may reflect narcissistic self-delusions of popularity and charm. We found self-reported success in humor was correlated with narcissism and psychopathy scores. Those high in psychopathy also reported better mechanical and lower scholarly skills than most, which may relate to their vocational interest in practical/realistic work. Machiavellianism accounted for little variance in creativity. Individual differences in the Dark Triad traits mediated sex differences in various aspects of creativity, suggesting sex differences in some aspects of creativity may be partially confounded by sex differences in the Dark Triad traits.
Those high in the Dark Triad traits, i.e. narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism are often... more Those high in the Dark Triad traits, i.e. narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism are often painted as either the "villains" or the "perpetrators". The consensus of personality research thus far is that these traits function by playing offense. Nonetheless, there is scope to understand the defensive stance of these traits. In this online questionnaire design study ( N=. 244) the relationship between the Dark Triad traits, defensive strategies and stress were investigated by correlational analysis. Unique associations with stress and defensive functioning depict individual differences in the Dark triad traits. Acting out, dissociation and splitting were the defenses that all three traits had in common; and all three traits were correlated with the use of an immature defensive strategy. An important novel finding of this present study was that an immature defensive strategy was found to mediate the relationship between Machiavellianism and stress. This brings us closer to understanding the psychological makeup of this trait. Applications are discussed within a clinical framework and the case is presented for a focus on theory of psychological defense to be adopted when working with such clientele.
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