Mechanisms of Psychological Defense and Dominant Defense Behavior of Convicts for Terrorist and Extremist Activities

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the particularities of the defense behavior mechanisms among convicted for terrorist and extremist activities. A total of 469 convicts (351-for terrorist activities, 118 - for extremist activities) participated in the study. Life Style Index was used in order to reveal the defense mechanisms. The results allow us to talk about five types of defense: 1) dominance of projection and compensation defense mechanisms as means against the awareness of the negative and unacceptable personality qualities; 2) dominance of compensation in the profile indicates the desire to overcome a strong sense of inferiority; 3) dominance of reaction formation where unacceptable unconscious content is overcome by strengthening and development of exaggerated opposite trends; 4) dominance of intellectualization, where is the real action to remedy the anxiety and fears, the individual formulates an abstract of judgment, trying to get rid of one’s frustration; 5) dominance of denial, it refers to non-recognition, rejection of reality, displacement of thoughts, feelings, emotions from consciousness. In conclusion the potential of psychotherapeutic work is discussed.