The Relationship Between Coping, Defense Mechanisms and Causal Uncertainty

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.

Keywords

• Coping
• defense mechanisms
• casual uncertainty

Başa Çıkma, Savunma Mekanizmaları ve Nedensel Belirsizlik Arasındaki İlişkiler

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, bireylerin kullandıkları başa çıkma ve savunma mekanizmaları ile sosyal olayların neden sonuç ilişkilerini anlama yeteneklerine olan güvensizlikleri (nedensel belirsizlik) arasındaki ilişkilerin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmaya katılan 300 kişiye (143 K, 157 E) Başa Çıkma Tutumlarını Değerlendirme Ölçeği (BÇTDÖ), Savunma Biçimleri Testi-40 (SBT-40) ve Nedensel Belirsizlik Ölçeği (NBÖ) uygulanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde Pearson korelasyon analizi ve çoklu doğrusal adımsal regresyon analizi kullanılmıştır. NBÖ ile BÇTDÖ toplam puanı, BÇTDÖ-İşlevsel Olmayan Başa Çıkma (İOBÇ) alt boyut puanı; SBT-40 toplam puanı, İmmatür (İS) ve Nevrotik Savunmalar (NS) alt boyut puanları arasında pozitif yönde ve istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düzeyde ilişki olduğu bulunmuştur. Buna ek olarak bulgular, BÇTDÖ-İOBÇ alt boyutu puanlarından “inkâr” ve “davranışsal boş verme” ile Problem Odaklı Başa Çıkma alt boyutu puanlarından “geri durma”nın NBÖ puanlarını istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düzeyde yordadığını ve toplam varyansın %24’ünü açıkladığını göstermiştir. Diğer yandan SBT-40 İS alt boyutu puanlarından “pasif saldırganlık”, “değersizleştirme” ve “disosiyasyon” ile SBT-40 NS alt boyutu puanlarından “karşıt tepki geliştirme”nin ise NBÖ puanlarını istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düzeyde yordadığı ve toplam varyansın %12’sini açıkladığı tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, sosyal olayların neden sonuç ilişkilerini anlama yeteneğine olan güvensizlik (nedensel belirsizlik), başa çıkma tutumları açısından incelendiğinde, bu güvensizliği inkâr, davranışsal boş verme ve geri durma gibi stresörlerden uzaklaşan baş etme stratejilerinin yordadığı bulunmuştur. Bu güvensizliğin aynı zamanda pasif saldırganlık, değersizleştirme, disosiyasyon ve karşıt tepki geliştirme savunma mekanizmalarınca yordandığı belirlenmiştir.

Keywords

• nedensel belirsizlik
• Başa çıkma
• savunma mekanizmaları

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