Defense Mechanisms and Object Relations as Factors in Marital Satisfaction

Authors: Grimm D.W.¹; Brannon R.²; Juni S.³

Source: Contemporary Family Therapy, Volume 19, Number 2, June 1997 , pp. 305-312(8)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Two hundred and seven married men and 202 married women completed the Defense Mechanisms Inventory (DMI; Ihilevich & Gleser, 1986) and the Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI; Snyder, 1981). The DMI was scored to yield defensive as well as object relations indices. Results show that Turning Against the Object exacerbates conflict while Principalization minimizes it. Marital satisfaction is seen as correlated with mastery of object relations. Results are discussed in the context of DMI psychometrics.

Keywords: marital satisfaction; defense mechanisms; object relations

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: The Federation Employment and Guidance Services, Hempstead Counseling Center, Hempstead, NY 2: Associate professor in the Psychology Department, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY 3: Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York City

Publication date: 1997-06-01