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INTRO

Hypotheses

METHOD

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RESULTS

HYPOTHESES

The First two hypotheses involve the relationship between two adaptive levels of defense mechanisms and personality disorder traits.

Hypothesis 1: It is predicted that maladaptive defense mechanisms such as acting out, inhibition, passive-aggressive behavior, projection,  regression, and withdrawal will have a significant positive relationship with personality disorder traits.   Also, adaptive defense mechanisms such as humor, sublimation, and suppression will have a significant negative realtionship with personality disorder traits.

Hypothesis 2: It is predicted that participants with at least one diagnosable personality disorder are expected to report more maladaptive defenses than participants without a diagnosable personality disorder.

The third hypothesis involves the relationship between defense mechanisms and age.

Hypothesis 3: It is predicted that older adults will have significantly more,or higher levels of adaptive defenses such as sublimation, humor, and suppression compared to younger adults, whereas younger adults will have significantly more, or higher levels of maladaptive defenses such as acting out, regression, passive-aggressive behavior, withdrawal, projection, and inhibition compared to older adults. 

The forth hypothesis involves the relationship between defense mechanisms and stress. 

Hypothsis 4: It is predicted that maladaptive defense mechanisms will have a significant positive relationship with levels of current stress whrereas adaptive defense mechanisms will have a significant negative relationship with levels of current stress.