| The relationship of laterality to defense mechanisms in men and women was further examined. Laterality was inferred from lateral eye movements (LEMs). LEMs were investigated in relationship to the Defense Mechanisms Inventory (DMI), the Defense Mechanism Test (DMT), color-word interference tasks, and the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI).;It was predicted that more outward directed defenses would be associated with right LEMs and more inward directed defenses be associated with left LEMs. Results of the DMI and DMT did not strongly support this prediction; however, there were significant results relating LEMs and defense mechanisms. On the DMI, projection, an outward defense, was associated with right LEMs in women and with left LEMs in men. Likewise, extraversion on the EPI was associated with right LEMs in women and with left LEMs in men. Right LEMs were related to more frequent recognition of threat stimuli than left LEMs on the DMT. Right LEMs were also related to faster reaction times than left LEMs on the color-word interference task when a difference score was calculated between the Stroop task and color naming. Gender differences were found on the DMI and DMT. On the DMI, men scored higher on reversal (denial), while women had higher scores in turning against self. Women recognized threat stimuli more frequently on the DMT and had faster reaction times on the color-word interference tasks. From the results, it can be concluded that gender is an important factor to consider when studying the relationship of LEMs to defense mechanisms. |
