Download or read book Protecting the Self written by Phebe Cramer and published by Guilford Press. This book was released on 2006-05-18 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Integrating theory, research, and applications, this book examines the defense mechanisms and their role in both normal development and psychopathology. It describes how children and adults mobilize specific kinds of defenses to maintain their psychological equilibrium and preserve self-esteem, particularly in situations of trauma or stress.