PSYCHOLOGY OF EMOTIONS, MOTIVATIONS AND ACTIONS SERIES PSYCHOLOGY OF DENIAL No part of this digital document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means. The publisher has taken reasonable care in the preparation of this digital document, but makes no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of information contained herein. This digital document is sold with the clear understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, medical or any other professional services. PSYCHOLOGY OF EMOTIONS, MOTIVATIONS AND ACTIONS SERIES Psychology of Aggression The Psychology of Pessimism James P. Morgan (Editor) Daniel X. Choi; Ravi B. DeSilva 2004. ISBN 1-59454-136-1 and John R. T. Monson 2010. 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ISBN: 978-1-61668-619-2 PSYCHOLOGY OF EMOTIONS, MOTIVATIONS AND ACTIONS SERIES PSYCHOLOGY OF DENIAL SOFIA K. OGDEN AND ASHLEY D. BIEBERS EDITORS Nova Science Publishers, Inc. New York Copyright © 2010 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means: electronic, electrostatic, magnetic, tape, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the Publisher. For permission to use material from this book please contact us: Telephone 631-231-7269; Fax 631-231-8175 Web Site: http://www.novapublishers.com NOTICE TO THE READER The Publisher has taken reasonable care in the preparation of this book, but makes no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of information contained in this book. The Publisher shall not be liable for any special, consequential, or exemplary damages resulting, in whole or in part, from the readers‘ use of, or reliance upon, this material. Any parts of this book based on government reports are so indicated and copyright is claimed for those parts to the extent applicable to compilations of such works. Independent verification should be sought for any data, advice or recommendations contained in this book. In addition, no responsibility is assumed by the publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property arising from any methods, products, instructions, ideas or otherwise contained in this publication. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered herein. It is sold with the clear understanding that the Publisher is not engaged in rendering legal or any other professional services. If legal or any other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent person should be sought. FROM A DECLARATION OF PARTICIPANTS JOINTLY ADOPTED BY A COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AND A COMMITTEE OF PUBLISHERS. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Psychology of denial / editors, Sofma K. Ogden and Ashley D. Biebers. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-1-61668-377-1 (eBook) 1. Denial (Psychology) 2. Defense mechanisms (Psychology) 3. Self-deception. I. Ogden, Sofma K. II. Biebers, Ashley D. BF175.5.D44.P78 2009 155.9--dc22 2009054179 Published by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. New York CONTENTS Preface ix Chapter 1 The Psychology of Denial in the Political Context: The Case of Torture 1 Daryn Reicherter, Alexandra Aylward, Ami Student and Cheryl Koopman Chapter 2 Repression: Finding Our Way in the Maze of Questionnaires 41 Bert Garssen Chapter 3 Hidden Curriculum in Education and the Social Psychology of Denial: Global Multicultural Education for Social Transformation 75 Beth Salyers and Greg Wiggan Chapter 4 Repression Questionnaires Compared 103 Bert Garssen, Margot Remie and Marije van der Lee Chapter 5 Where Are All the Black Male Students? African Americans‘ School Achievement, the Social Psychology of Denial, and Arts Education as a Mediating Influence 131 Calvin W. Walton and Greg Wiggan viii Preface Chapter 6 High Denial and Moderate Acceptance Led to Success and Reduced Guilt 147 Marilyn Lanza and Scott Prunier Chapter 7 The Conditional Adjustment Hypothesis: Two Ways of Dealing with Dissonance 157 Tor G. Jakobsen Chapter 8 Exploring the Usefulness of ―Denial‖ as a Concept for Understanding Chronic Illness and Disability 171 Sally Lindsay Index 179 PREFACE In psychology, denial is a concept originating with the psychodynamic theories of Sigmund Freud. According to Freud, three mental dynamics, or motivating forces, influence human behavior: the id, ego, and superego.These three forces all have different goals (id, pleasure; ego, reality; superego, morality) and continually strive for dominance, resulting in internal conflict. This conflict produces anxiety. The ego, which functions as a mediator between the two extremes of the id and the superego, attempts to reduce this anxiety by using defense mechanisms. Defense mechanisms are indirect ways of dealing or coping with anxiety, such as explaining problems away or blaming others for problems. Denial is one of many defense mechanisms. It entails ignoring or refusing to believe an unpleasant reality. Defense mechanisms protect one's psychological well-being in traumatic situations, or in any situation that produces anxiety or conflict.This new book presents original research in this exciting and thought- provoking field. Chapter 1- The psychology of denial is examined within the political context. This chapter uses the issue of state-sanctioned torture to expand the psychological concept of denial beyond cognitive and psychoanalytic psychology to include factors drawn from social and political psychology. Historical and political perspectives are also incorporated, as are intra-psychic perspectives. The political issue of torture is an interesting focus for expanding the psychological understanding of denial because although torture is not legal in any country, it is practiced in two-thirds of the world‘s nations (Amnesty International, 2001). State-sanctioned torture is conducted with the implicit (if not explicit) support of each nation‘s government. However, no countries publicly acknowledge that their governments sanction torture, and its occurrence is often rigorously denied.