Exploring Gender Differences in Defense Mechanisms: A Systematic Review

This dissertation aims to explore and identify the possibility that there are gender differences in the use of defense mechanisms. Defense mechanisms are cognitive processes that protect the individual from excessive anxiety or other negative emotions. The present systematic review deepens the history of the formation of defense mechanisms and subsequently, reports on the progression these have, with a specific focus on the different consequences produced on the social development and character formation of men and women. After analyzing the available research papers and texts, a comment and analysis of the results of this review is made and lastly, suggestions for future research and work on the subject are provided.