DEFENSIVE PROJECTION IN LATE ADOLESCENTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR A DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL OF PARANOID BEHAVIOR

Abstract

HEILBRUN, ALFRED B., JR. Defensive Projection in Late Adolescents: Implications for a Developmental Model of Paranoid Behavior. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1972, 43, 880-891. A developmental model for paranoid behavior has been proposed which postulates that the attempt to adapt to sustained aversive maternal control by manipulative social approach behaviors (open adaptive style) leaves the person vulnerable to emerging paranoid tendencies. The present study represented the third experiment which has found support for the model. Late-adolescent males were asked to attribute evaluative terms either to themselves or to their peers, being told their source was a survey, of mothers. Open-style subjects demonstrated selective attribution to peers for negative traits, as would be required for inferring defensive projection (a hallmark of paranoid behavior). No evidence for projection was found when the negative traits did not have a maternal evaluative source.