Date

4-29-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Robin A. Rippeth

Keywords

emotional intelligence, defense mechanisms, attachment, rumination, motivation, lifespan development

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

Early childhood relationships significantly influence developmental and relational functioning across the lifespan. Emotional intelligence has been associated with healthier relational outcomes through increased awareness of self and others. Variability in childhood experiences may contribute to the development of defense mechanisms that shape how individuals process relational memories and regulate emotional distress in adulthood. Limited research has examined how emotional intelligence and defense mechanisms interact to influence adults’ retrospective processing of childhood experiences, including attachment, rumination, and motivation. The present quantitative correlation study examined the relationships among emotional intelligence, defense mechanisms, childhood attachment experience, rumination, and motivation in a sample of 160 adults. Statistical analyses included correlation, multiple regression, and mediation analyses to test four primary hypotheses and two exploratory research questions. Results indicated that higher emotional intelligence was significantly associated with greater use of mature defenses, lower reliance on immature defenses, lower rumination, and more adaptive motivation patterns. Implications include potential emotionally focused interventions to reduce maladaptive defenses and rumination while strengthening adaptive emotional and relational functioning. Future research may include longitudinal and intervention-based models to clarify developmental sequencing and causal pathways.

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