Abstract
In this research, it is aimed to examine relations of coping, defense mechanisms and uncertainty about one's ability to understand cause and effect relations in the social world (causal uncertainty). COPE, Defense Style Questionnaire-40 (DSQ-40) and Causal Uncertainty Scale (CUS) were administered to 300 participants (143 F, 157 M) who participated in the study. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear (stepwise) regression analysis were used to analyze the data. It was found that there was a statistically significant positive correlation between total scores of COPE, COPE-Dysfunctional Coping sub-dimension, DSQ-40, DSQ-40-Immature defenses and DSQ-40-Neurotic defenses sub-dimensions and CUS. Additionally, the findings showed that “denial” and “behavioral disengagement” subscale scores of Dysfunctional coping and “withdrawal” subscale scores of Problem-Focused coping significantly predicted 24% of CUS scores. On the other hand, “passive aggression”, “devaluation” and “dissociation” subscale scores of the Immature defenses and the “reaction formation” subscale scores of the Neurotic defenses were found to significantly predict the 12% CUS scores. As a result, when uncertainty about one's ability to understand cause and effect relations in the social world (causal uncertainty) is examined in terms of coping and defense mechanisms, results revealed that it was predicted by coping strategies that enable getting distanced from stressors such as denial, behavioral disengagement, and withdrawal. It was determined that causal uncertainty is also predicted by passive aggression, devaluation, dissociation and reaction formation defense mechanisms.