Content Analysis of the Tactical Defense Mechanisms in Women with Marital Conflict participating in intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy

The present research attempts to analyze content of the tactical defense mechanisms in women with marital conflict. The objective of the present study was to analyze content of tactical defense mechanisms with intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy in women with marital conflict. The present study was administered using descriptive content analysis and case study in female clients of “psychology and counseling centers” in Tehran. A total of 5 women with marital conflict، and they were suitable for short-term dynamic psychotherapy were sampled purposefully. They participated individually in 12 therapeutic sessions using Davanloo’s intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy. Clients’ sessions were recorded with digital audio player. In this research، data was analyzed using expressed frequency of tactical defenses. Tactical defenses analyzed in this research included: 1. Cover words، 2. Indirect speech، 3. Generalization، 4. Externalization، 5. Diversification، 6. Providing introduction، 7. Rationalization، 8. Intellectualization. 9. Rumination، 10. Denial، 11. Forgetting، and 12. Talking instead of experiencing the feeling. the results showed that tactical defense mechanisms were fluctuating unsystematically for 5 clients in 12 therapeutic sessions، and expression rate of the defenses depended on therapist’s pressure. Among tactical defenses for women with marital conflict، “cover words” were maximum and “forgetting” was minimum.