TABLE 2.

High-adaptive defense level: Definition, function and DMRS-Q items of defenses affiliation, altruism, anticipation, humor, self-assertion, self-observation, sublimation, and suppression.

Defense mechanism	DMRS-Q items
Affiliation	ITEM 22: Whenever the subject brings a personal problem to someone for help or advice, the subject is not expecting the other to take care of it, but rather to help come up with a solution which the subject will then implement. ITEM 25: The subject describes an important conflict or external stress in which affiliation played a major emotional role in coping as evident by the description of characteristics of the help received, the individuals or organization involved, and the sense that something was taken away from the experience. ITEM 44: When the subject describes seeking help from others, there is a sense of having learned something from the interchange. ITEM 66: When confronted with emotional conflict or stressful situations, the subject describes confiding in someone. Emotionally meaningful sharing led to enhancement of coping skills, or direct assistance beyond what the subject would have done alone. ITEM 93: When dealing with an emotionally difficult situation, the subject reports that talking to others helps the subject think through how best to handle the problem.
Altruism	ITEM 11: The subject helps others who are experiencing a problem they cannot adequately deal with alone. The problem appears to have a personal meaning to the subject related to similar experiences in the subject’s past (e.g., ‘It made me feel good to help someone in the same position that I once found so difficult.’). ITEM 15: The subject finds it personally rewarding to help others who are suffering. The subject participates in organizations or groups that help other people in direct person-to-person ways. In this context, the subject gives direct help to others, which the subject apparently finds rewarding. ITEM 104: The subject reacts to a difficult or dangerous situation for someone else by interposing him or herself to protect the other person. While not reckless, the subject may put him or herself at personal physical or material risk in doing so. ITEM 132: The subject helps others who are at a loss to cope with a problem or situation, possibly including standing up to authority. It is clear that the subject obtains some personal gratification or mastery from the meaning of helping, beyond any overt reward obtained.
Anticipation	ITEM 43: Ahead of an important performance or occasion, the subject practices imagining him or herself in the situation to be both better prepared and less anxious. ITEM 46: The subject describes small events in his or her life in which he or she characteristically mentions thinking about their outcomes ahead of time and emotionally preparing in some way for them. ITEM 62: In confronting a new situation or an unknown task, the subject tries ahead of time to be aware of the emotional challenges and plan for whatever resources that will aid and comfort the subject in the new situation. ITEM 65: The subject describes emotionally meaningful vignettes of upcoming stressful situations in which the subject fully prepared him or herself emotionally as to how to handle it. ITEM 78: In dealing with interpersonal conflicts, the subject tries to imagine how others might respond in planning how to deal with them, but without obsessing or over planning.
Humor	ITEM 18: The subject makes amusing or ironic comments about embarrassing situations to diffuse them. ITEM 37: The subject can make humorous remarks about him or herself or others without saying negative, hurtful, or deprecating things. ITEM 40: In confronting difficult situations which the subject cannot change, the subject uses humor about the situation to mitigate the negative feelings arising. ITEM 51: The subject diffuses a difficult situation with others by making a pertinent joke that centers on some important point that all can acknowledge without being at anyone’s expense, thereby fostering cooperation. ITEM 119: When confronted by a situation fraught with competitive, hostile, or jealous feelings, the subject reveals something about him or herself in a self-deprecatory, ironic, or amusing way to diffuse the tension.
Self-assertion	ITEM 23: When pursuing something desirable, including a relationship with someone, the subject can use his or her talents and charms to attract the other, without feeling ashamed or guilty if unsuccessful. ITEM 90: When the subject has a physical or emotional or practical problem, the subject takes steps to deal with his or her needs – possibly including initiating getting help – rather than ignore them or hope they will take care of themselves. ITEM 105: When someone is impolite, dismissive, or derogatory toward the subject, the subject can stand up for him or herself appropriately, even if the subject cannot change the other’s attitude or command an apology. ITEM 109: The subject can disagree with others and express opinions without being overly hostile, devaluing, or manipulative of others. ITEM 146: When confronted with emotionally difficult situations, the subject expresses his or her thoughts, wishes, or feelings clearly and directly without inhibition or excess.
Self-observation	ITEM 9: When talking with someone about a personally charged topic, the subject displays an accurate view of him or herself and can see how he or she appears from the other person’s point of view. ITEM 32: When confronting emotionally important problems, the subject can reflect upon relevant personal experiences and explore emotional reactions. This allows the subject to adjust better to limitations and compromises, possibly leading to more fulfilling outcomes. ITEM 58: In interpersonal conflicts, the subject uses an understanding of his or her reactions to facilitate understanding others’ points of view or subjective experiences. This may make the subject a better negotiator or collaborator. ITEM 77: When considering an emotionally important decision, the subject explores his or her own motives and limitations to arrive at a more fulfilling decision. ITEM 91: When the subject reflects on past experiences, he or she can relive distressing feelings and make connections between events and feelings and develop understanding thereby changing how the subject views the past and possibly similar situations in the present.
Sublimation	ITEM 14: In describing any personal artistic or creative activities – such as writing, music, art, or acting – the subject appears to transform emotional conflicts or unfulfilled wishes from elsewhere in life, helping to shape the creative activity or product. ITEM 36: The subject describes emotional conflictual situations in which some of the feelings or dissatisfaction are channeled into creative or artistic activities. The resulting creative products – such as a poem or painting – give the subject a sense of mastery or relief from the conflicts.
	ITEM 63: Whenever engaging in a creative activity, the subject finds the process of creation itself satisfying, apart from any satisfaction with the final product. ITEM 97: Following experiences of emotional distress or conflict, the subject engages in sports or other physical activities which are an invigorating outlet for any lingering frustrations. ITEM 100: Following some strong experiences, the subject engages in his or her ordinary activities but with less effort, greater accomplishment and more pleasure than they normally would require or yield.
Suppression	ITEM 49: When presented with an external demanding situation over which the subject has no control, the subject can accept the demand, putting negative feelings aside to deal with what must be done. ITEM 117: When the subject experiences a desire that if acted upon would have bad consequences, the subject is able to decide consciously to put the desire aside and not act upon it. ITEM 128: When the subject experiences a salient personal limitation or problem, rather than pretending it is not a problem, the subject acknowledges and accepts it, which allows the subject to avoid exacerbating problems. For example, acknowledging an addiction and accepting that one must avoid using the desired substance. ITEM 131: When attending to something emotionally important, if interrupted by something more urgent, the subject attends to the interruption as needed, but later returns and finishes dealing with what had to be postponed. ITEM 150: When presented with an emotionally charged situation, the subject can postpone dealing with his or her feelings to attend to the things that need to be done immediately. The feelings don’t get in the way or distract the subject, because the subject is able to give them adequate attention later.