Abstract
The authors began their work with the assumption that defense mechanisms are related to emotion in a dynamic and regulatory fashion, and that ego defenses are interrelated and have implications for adaptation in both an evolutionary and an ontogenetic perspective. Based on their review of the literature on ego defenses and their own theoretical considerations, they conclude that (1) there is overlap among defenses as traditionally defined; (2) some defenses are polar opposites; and (3) some are more primitive than others. The authors develop a model for interrelating defense mechanisms, emotions, and diagnostic concepts. They postulate four pairs of basic bipolar emotions: fear-anger, joy-sadness, acceptance-disgust, and expectancy-surprise. These bipolar emotions vary in the degree to which they are similar to each other. They are considered basic because they are rooted in our biological-evolutionary history and were selected through evolution because of their adaptive functions.
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Plutchik, R., Kellerman, H., Conte, H.R. (1979). A Structural Theory of Ego Defenses and Emotions. In: Izard, C.E. (eds) Emotions in Personality and Psychopathology. Emotions, Personality, and Psychotherapy. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2892-6_9
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