ALEXITHYMIA AND REPRESSION - THE ROLE OF DEFENSIVENESS AND TRAIT ANXIETY

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between alexithymia, repressive coping, defensiveness and trait anxiety. The M arlowe-Crowne scale (MC) and the Bendig version of the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale (MAS) were used to select repressor and control group s ubjects, who subsequently completed the revised Toronto Alexithymia:Sc ale (TAS-20). Results showed that repressors (high MC, low MAS) scored significantly lower on the TAS-20 than all other Subjects, including a defensive high anxious group (high MC, high MAS) and a low-anxious g roup (low MC, low MAS). The results suggest that repressors' low alexi thymia score was due to the combination of defensiveness and anxiety a nd not high defensiveness or low trait anxiety alone. Possible reasons for repressors' low alexithymia score are discussed.