TOWARDS AN UNDERSTANDING OF DEFENSE STYLE IN TERMS OF TEMPERAMENT ANDCHARACTER

The aim was to investigate the relationships between a model of person ality based on the concept of defense mechanisms, as articulated by Va illant, with the psychobiological model of personality, as developed b y Cloninger. A total of 128 adults from 11 family pedigrees with at le ast two alcohol-dependent members completed the self-report Defense St yle Questionnaire and the Temperament and Character Inventory. Immatur e defenses were largely explained by low character scores, while neuro tic defenses were part temperament and part character. Cluster A, B an d C defenses were related to low reward dependence, high novelty-seeki ng and high harm avoidance respectively. In a regression analysis, clu ster B and C defenses were more related to low character scores than t o temperament but, for cluster A defenses, temperament and character b oth contributed. The results suggest that it is possible to integrate an ego defense model of personality with a psychobiological model of p ersonality, thereby enriching both approaches.