Defense Mechanisms and Borderline Personality Organization Among COVID-19 Believers and Non-believers During Complete Lock-Down.

Anna Zajenkowska,Joanna Rajchert,Marta Bodecka-Zych,Iwona Nowakowska,Adrianna Jakubowska,Amy E Pinkham,Izabela Kaźmierczak

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.700774

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to investigate whether a specific social perception of the pandemic—believing or not in COVID-19—predicts borderline personality organizations and whether this relationship is mediated by more primitive maladaptive mechanisms—splitting, denial, and dissociation. The online study included 720 organization aged 25–45. Participants were diverse in terms of place of residence, being in a relationship, and education level. Approximately 30% of the general population reported not believing in the COVID-19 pandemic. Non-believers scored slightly higher on borderline symptoms and used more maladaptive defense mechanisms than believers. Individuals who deny COVID-19 are more likely to show characteristics of borderline personality organization. Splitting is an important mechanism in this relationship.

Highlights

Perceptions and attitudes toward negative and powerful life events can be related to the type of defense mechanisms an individual employs and the level of functioning of the ego [1]
The current study shows that ∼30% of the sample reported not believing in the COVID pandemic
Non-believers scored slightly higher on borderline symptoms (d = 0.20) and used more maladaptive defense mechanisms than believers

Summary

Introduction

Perceptions and attitudes toward negative and powerful life events can be related to the type of defense mechanisms an individual employs and the level of functioning of the ego [1]. To many people a sudden shift in their everyday lives due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic and lock-down could have been a traumatizing event and may have triggered the use of maladaptive defense mechanisms [2, 3]. That could be especially true among individuals with weaker ego, who use more maladaptive defense mechanisms [4]. It is plausible that the way an individual perceives reality under stressful events could enhance pathological functioning if he/she uses maladaptive defense mechanisms. Defense mechanisms are related to the way people process everyday events. In line with socially constructed perspective, questions in psychology should be answered in regard to psychological inner states

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