Cognitive style and defenses: a longitudinal study of intellectualization and field independence.

The focus of this study was to investigate the long-range stability of the defense style of intellectualization (assessed by ratings of Rorschach protocols), and its relation to an analytic field-independent cognitive style (assessed by scores on the Rod and Frame, RFT, test). The 28 male Ss had been administered the Rorschach and the RFT at age 14, 17, and 24 (4 of the sample was also tested at age 10) and the Wechsler-Bellevue at age 17, as part of a broader longitudinal study. The results indicate that individual differences in Rorschach ratings of intellectualization tend to remain stable from childhood to young adulthood. Intellectualization ratings were also positively related to field independence and IQ.