Relationship between Cognitive Style and Defensive Style

Abstract

This study examines psychoanalytic psychology, theories of cognitive style, and cognitive developmental psychology to examine the relationship between cognitive style and defensive style. A new set of cognitive styles of visual attention is formulated at the following developmental levels: (1) global, (2) local, (3) global-plus-local at the concrete operational level, and (4) global-plus-local at the formal operational level, 50 subjects were administered global-local sorting tasks, the Sentence Preference Test, the Embedded Figures Test, and the Defense Style Questionnaire. Analysis provided mixed support for the hypothesized cognition-defense relationship. Results suggested that the "pure" character types are not typical and that their styles of cognition and defense are positively correlated, not independent as expected. However, possible measurement problems preclude any firm conclusions at this time.

Thinking Styles and Cognitive Development

“…In contrast, students who were at Perry's relativistic level of cognitive development tended to use a wider repertoire of thinking styles, including Type II and neutral styles, apart from Type I styles. This result not only supported the predictions but also provided empirical evidence for Perry's theoretical argument about students' retreat to the dualistic way of reasoning (also, see Westreich et al, 1997). In this context, students at the relativistic level of reasoning may resort to less challenging styles, such as the local and monarchic styles.…”

“…Since then, little related work has been documented. A thorough search of this topic in the PsycINFO database (known as the PsycLit until recently) resulted in two entries after the year 1989 (Solís-Cámara, 1996;Westreich, Ritzler, & Duncan, 1997). The majority of empirical studies cited found significant relationships between cognitive development and cognitive styles.…”