Relationship between Defense Mechanisms and the Individuation Process among Adults

Jung defined individuation as the process by which a person becomes “a psychological in-dividual, that is separate, indivisible unity or whole that begins after the 35th year and is necessary for survival. Freud originally conceived of defense mechanisms as “intra-psychic” mechanisms that mediate the internal struggles between the internalized societal expectations of the super-ego and the instinctual drives of the id. The present investigation was designed to study the relationship between defense mechanisms (mature, neurotic and immature) and the individuation process among adults. Sample for the study consisted of 240 adults, age ranging 40-50 years, having a stable career and married life. Data was collected using questionnaires pertaining to the variables from Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula and Solan. Since, it is the first of its kind attempt in the Indian context to provide elusive character to the construct of individuation, the index for individuation consisted of a cumulative score of self-concept, ego strength and inner-directedness. The study consisted of three hypotheses: 1) Mature defense mechanisms will have a positive significant relationship with the individuation process. 2) Neurotic defense mechanisms will have a negative significant relationship with the individuation process. 3) Immature defense mechanisms will have a negative significant relationship with the individuation process. Statistical analysis was done using Pearson’s product moment correlation to study the relationship between defense mechanisms and the individuation process. Results indicated that mature defense mechanisms were found to have positive significant relationship with the individuation process, thereby proving our first hypothesis. Whereas both neurotic and immature defense mechanisms were found to have a positive but non – significant relationship with the individuation process, due to which hypothesis two and three were rejected. However, more studies need to be conducted to validate the construct of Individuation process in the Indian context.