Predictions of success of Danish attack divers by the defense mechanism test (DMT).

Abstract

In previous investigations (Kragh, 1960a), groups of aviation cadets were tested with the Defense Mechanism Test (DMT); predictions of pass and fail at the aviation school were found to yield a rather consistent positive correlation with the criterion. The question may, of course, be raised whether these findings are valid for flying personnel only, or if they can be generalized to other categories of personnel, coo. The latter alternative would agree with the basic theory of the DMT (Kragh, 1955, 1960b, 1960c), as well as with the findings obtained with abnormal groups by means of identical or closely related methods (Kragh, 1961, 1962; Nyman & Smith, 1961; Smith & Johnson, 1961; Smith & Nyman, 1961). Provided differenc types of precognitive organization (PDO) are activated in the test and that they are, in principle, equivalent to the classical defense mechanisms, predictions of fail and success based on the test should apply to any activity where defense mechanisms are supposed to impair adaptation. Now the assumption was made that activities under rather constant and pronounced stress would be particularly sensitive to the interference by defense mechanisms, strong mechanisms (or at least certain rypes of them) blocking adaptation. Aviation cadets are certainly exposed co conscant and intense stress during training; they have to fit into a comparatively new, unknown and fear-inspiring frame characterized by the fact that any mistake may bring wich it extreme or fatal consequences. The same is obviously true of men doing work under water, sometimes at high atmospheric pressure. There is another greac advantage of investigating groups like aviation cadets or attack divers, predicting success and fail during their training in military schools. These categories of personnel are important because their rraining is expensive and the risk for casualties always imminenr, with severe human and economic consequences. In case of war, they belong to the key persons. During [raining they form comparatively small groups, the scaff of teachers is relatively large, and the period of training long. For all these reasons, their abilities and their personalicy are therefore more intensely studied and beccer known than in most other military (or civil) settings, and the criteria likely to be more reliable.