Ego Mechanisms of Defense

After the underlying theory of defenses had been developed by Sigmund Freud, his daughter Anna elaborated the notion of specific mechanisms of defense and their importance to clinical work. In this book George Vaillant and his colleagues take the next step, moving from the accepted clinical wisdom of the field to the development of a strategy and methodology for systematic scientific study... the book combines methodologic sophistication with clinical relevance, in an all too rare, but immensely appealing integration. Robert Michels, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, Cornell University Medical College Dr. Vaillant has once again pioneered on this subject and offered cutting-edge information in this very relevant clinical area. This book presents new perspectives and insights, making it of significant value to clinicians, educators, and researchers. Pedro Ruiz, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

By summarizing the empirical studies, proposing a universal language of defense mechanisms, and demonstrating how various assessment methods can be used in diagnosis, case formulation, and treatment, Dr. Vaillant and an interdisciplinary group of contributors provide the groundwork for clinical practice as well as future research in the field.

Not since Anna Freud's 1937 book, The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defense, has any one volume explored this topic as fully as Ego Mechanisms of Defense by George E. Vaillant.

By summarizing the latest empirical studies, proposing a universal language of defense mechanisms, and demonstrating how various assessment methods can be used in diagnosis, case formulation, and treatment, Dr. Vaillant and an interdisciplinary group of contributors provide the groundwork for clinical practice as well as future research in the field.

“"This book is at once thorough, creative, and enticing... This book is quite an important offering. Clinicians can benefit from the wisdom imparted in the chapter on clinical management of immature defenses, researchers from the summaries of the empirical studies, and educators from the whole work as a guide to thinking about patients in a most humane and empirically supported way."- American Journal of Psychiatry”

This book is at once thorough, creative, and enticing. . . This book is quite an important offering. Clinicians can benefit from the wisdom imparted in the chapter on clinical management of immature defenses, researchers from the summaries of the empirical studies, and educators from the whole work as a guide to thinking about patients in a most humane and empirically supported way.

Dr. George Vaillant is, in the tradition of Anna Freud and Elvin Semrad, an international authority in empirical research on the nature of defense mechanisms and their elaboration into personality traits.

In this clearly conceptualized, useful, and well-written book, George Vaillant discusses defense mechanisms from both a clinical and a research perspective.

George E. Vaillant is Professor of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Not since Anna Freud's 1937 book, The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defense, has any one volume explored this topic as fully as Ego Mechanisms of Defense by George E. Vaillant. By summarizing the latest empirical studies, proposing a universal language of defense mechanisms, and demonstrating how various assessment methods can be used in diagnosis, case formulation, and treatment, Dr. Vaillant and an interdisciplinary group of contributors provide the groundwork for clinical practice as well as future research in the field.

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