Jacque’s case studies for attachment domains and defenses domains | SOWK 7300 | Valdosta State University - Valdosta, GA
Question 2. One you have completed Question 1, assess the following dimension of Jacque’s defense mechanisms (considering those that you identified in Question 1). Assess the strength and rigidity of her defenses. Clients vary greatly in the strength or rigidity of their defenses. Come clients are quite well-defended, and they have no awareness of their defenses. Further, their defenses don’t appear to cause them any type of discomfort or distress. Their defenses are said to be “ego-syntonic” because they seem to be “consistent with the person’s fundamental personality and beliefs”. Conversely, some clients are uncomfortable and quite bothered by their defenses, and they experience them as “inconsistent with their basic personality and beliefs”. Additionally, some clients use a wide range of defenses from sophisticated to mid-range to very primitive while others use only primitive defenses, others mainly mid-range, and others mainly sophisticated. The patterns vary greatly. The more primitive defenses that are used, however, the more distortion of reality that occurs. People also differ in their awareness of their defenses and how comfortable they are with their defenses. Some clients are so bothered by their defenses that they choose to give them up by seeking help. Considering what you know about Jacque, decide where to rate the Strength/Rigidity of her Defenses, and provide a rationale for this rating.