Objective: The Purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristic defense mechanisms and personality profiles of the surgeons and the differences of defense mechanisms between the surgical specialists and residents using the Ewha
Defense
Mechanisms Scale.
Methods: To evaluate the defense mechanisms of the surgeons, we assigned 60 surgeons who took the Ewha Defense Mechanisms Scale, working for Soonchunhyang University Hospital. Among the 60 responders, 30 were surgical specialists and the
rest 30
were surgical residents.
Results: First, when we evaluated the average scores of each defense mechanisms, show-off had the highest average score among the defense mechanisms. Second was projection, third was identification, the forth was humor, and the fifth was
passive-aggression. And then, we compared the defense mechanisms between surgical specialists and residents, the resident group had significant higher scores than specialist group in identification, regression, controlling, rationalization,
altruism.
Second, when we evaluated the highest average scores of the defense mechanisms grouped by maturity level, neurotic level had the highest score. And then, we groped the defense mechanisms by maturity level, the resident group also had significant
higher
scores than the specialist group in immature and neurotic level.
Third, when we evaluated the frequency of the major defense mechanisms of the individual surgeons, show-off, projection, humor, avoidance had highest frequency among the defense mechanisms. Reaction-formation, identification, regression were
second
one,
rationalization, dissociation, anticipation were the 2nd lowest one, and somatization and altruism were the lowest one. The resident group had significant higher frequency than specialist group in regression.
Conclusion: Surgeons had relatively higher scores and frequency using show-off, reaction-formation, projection, humor, identification, than other defense mechanisms. These results of this study show characteristic aggressive,
authoritative,
action-oriented, less inhibited attitude on the surgeons described by previous studies. Residents had more immature and neurotic personality profiles than specialists. That result shows that the surgical residents may have more stressful
situation
such
as authoritative and rigid surgical training, and younger age, less surgical and life experience than specialists.
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