Characteristics Of Psychological Defense Mechanism In Young Male Inmates

Youth delinquency is a great social problem in many countries today. It is necessary to enhance the theoretical research on youth delinquency, in particular, to apply the psychological theories and research methods to study the psychological characteristics of youth delinquency. Such a study plays an important role to scientifically explain, forecast, prevent and correct youth delinquency. In this study, 184 young male criminals from a prison in shanghai were investigated with Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Defensive Style Questionnaire (DSQ) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), as well as individual interviews .The results indicated that:(1) As a whole, young male criminals were apt to use more mature defense mechanisms, and they often adopted sublimation, anticipation and fantasy.(2) Neuroticism was the most important predictor for defense mechanisms of young male criminals. Immature defenses were positively correlated with neuroticism and psychoticism, while negatively correlated with extroversion-introversion. There existed significant positive correlation between mature defenses and neuroticism, and negative correlation with extroversion-introversion. Intermediate defenses were positively correlated with neuroticism, while negatively correlated with extroversion-introversion.(3) Utilized support and objective support are important predictors for immature defenses. Immature defenses were positively correlated with subjective support and utilized support, while negatively correlated with objective support; Mature defenses were positively correlated with subjective support, while negatively correlated with objective support and utilized support; Intermediate defenses were negatively correlated with all these support.