TABLE 6.

Disavowal defense level: Definition, function and DMRS-Q items of defenses denial, rationalization, projection, and autistic fantasy.

Defense mechanism	DMRS-Q items
Denial	ITEM 20: When confronted with topics that might be personally meaningful, the subject denies they are important and refuses to talk about them further. ITEM 33: Contrary to the evidence from the interview, the subject claims to have done something that in all likelihood he or she did not do, and may become irritated if confronted with any discrepancy. ITEM 121: Whenever talking about potentially distressing events or experiences, the subject strongly claims not to have any feelings about the topic, although this seems highly unlikely. ITEM 124: Whenever asked about things the subject did or felt, the subject denies any involvement, does not want to talk about them or avoids explaining his or her reluctance. ITEM 137: The subject is hard to talk with, responding to many questions with answers like “no” or “not really” and does not elaborate, rather than giving some fuller answers which one would normally expect.
Rationalization	ITEM 19: To avoid taking responsibility for one’s actions or misdeeds, the subject makes excuses or points out others’ contributions to the problem, thereby minimizing his or her own role. ITEM 42: The subject avoids feelings of guilt or shame by justifying his actions or by referring to external reasons that impelled him to act. ITEM 59: When discussing a problem that the subject contributed to, the subject explains his or her own actions far more than necessary, as if explaining away his or her own fault. ITEM 86: Whenever confronted about his or her own feelings or intentions, the subject avoids acknowledging them by giving a plausible explanation that covers up the real subjective reasons. ITEM 120: Whenever discussing something uncomfortable about him or herself, the subject tries to convince someone else of a more positive explanation, as if lying to him or herself about the truth.
Projection	ITEM 112: When others comment or inquire about the subject’s own feelings, actions, or intentions, the subject is very elusive or frankly denies the material, but the subject subsequently talks about similar feelings, actions, intentions, etc., in others. ITEM 115: When experiencing or confronted with a problem, the subject shames, humiliates, or blames someone else for the problem, ignoring his or her own role. ITEM 123: An attitude of suspiciousness or prejudice toward a group of other individuals, allows the subject not to express an interest in the same motives or feelings but remain blind to them in him or herself. ITEM 134: When others ask the subject questions, the subject is suspicious about others’ real reasons or motives for the question. ITEM 141: The subject perceives others as untrustworthy, unfaithful, or manipulative when there is no objective basis for these concerns. This may even appear paranoid.
Autistic fantasy	ITEM 2: The subject has repetitive or serial daydreams to which he or she retreats in lieu of real life social relationships. ITEM 24: The subject daydreams a lot, not in a way that leads to creative planning or action, but simply for its own gratification, in lieu of action. ITEM 106: In dealing with some problems, the subject prefers to daydream about solutions, as a substitute for planning direct, realistic, and effective actions. ITEM 110: Whenever being self-assertive would be helpful, the subject may act passively but later withdraw into fantasies of being assertive or aggressive toward others as a compensation. ITEM 148: The subject gets intensely involved in fantasy roles or actions that express wishes and feelings that the subject does not express in real life. For example, living out a role in a social situation or game or which has no connection to real life ways in which the subject expresses him or herself.