Protecting the Self: Defense Mechanisms in Action - Hardcover

by Phebe Cramer (Author)

Integrating theory, research, and practical applications, this timely book provides a comprehensive examination of defense mechanisms and their role in both normal development and psychopathology. The author describes how children and adults mobilize specific kinds of defenses to maintain their psychological equilibrium and preserve self-esteem, particularly in situations of trauma or stress. Many lucid examples illustrate what these mechanisms look like in everyday life; the impact of age, gender, and personality differences; what happens when defenses are used maladaptively; and how they are affected by psychotherapy. Challenges in assessment are considered, and empirically supported instruments and approaches are discussed in depth.

Author Biography

Phebe Cramer, PhD, until her death in 2021, was Professor of Psychology Emeritus at Williams College, where she joined the faculty in 1970. Dr. Cramer published more than 90 research articles and five books, on topics including defense mechanisms, narcissism, and longitudinal personality development. She was a recipient of the Bruno Klopfer Award from the Society for Personality Assessment and the Murray-Helson Award from the Association for Research in Personality. At Williams, Dr. Cramer was the first woman to hold the position of full professor, the first to chair a department, and the first tenured female professor in the psychology department, and she cofounded a committee that fought for and won salary equity and maternity leave for women. In addition to teaching and research, she maintained a private clinical psychology practice for much of her career and held staff positions in hospitals and institutes.