Cognitive Irrationality and Defensiveness

Abstract

Cognitive irrationality was related to defensiveness as measured by the Defense Mechanism Inventory of Gleser and Ihilevich. Rationality was positively related to the principalization and reversal defenses. Catastrophizing subjects employed the defenses of turning against objects and projection; guilty subjects employed the reversal defense; and subjects prone to inertia and avoidance, and projected misfortune employed the defense of turning against objects. Multiple regression analyses supported the correlations. The theoretical and clinical relevance of cognitive irrationality and defense styles is discussed.