Manic defence
Immature defence in effect, primary in McWilliams' terms; a Kleinian concept rather than one of Vaillant's categories. The person wards off depressive feelings of loss, guilt, dependence and helplessness with triumph, contempt, control and frantic activity.
What drives it
Keeps grief and dependence out of view: if I'm busy, on top and contemptuous of what I've lost, I don't have to mourn or need anyone.
How it shows
Work
After a major failure, three new initiatives the following week. Relentless upbeat energy after layoffs. Triumph over beaten rivals (“They were never a threat”). Can't stand still or reflect, and the post-mortem never happens. People around them feel exhilarated, then exhausted, then oddly sad on their behalf.
Relationships
A party the week of the breakup; every weekend filled after a parent dies; jokes and plans whenever grief comes near. Partners can't find a quiet moment with them.
Self
An urgent need to stay busy or upbeat, and a crash when activity stops: Sunday evenings, holidays, the drive home.
What tells it apart
Hypomanic (manic) character: Hypomanic character is a stable lifelong style; manic defence is set off by a specific loss and recedes once the person grieves.
Bipolar disorder and hypomania: Hypomania in bipolar disorder comes in distinct episodes with reduced need for sleep and pressured speech, often with no loss as trigger; manic defence follows a loss and lacks the full episode.
Workaholism: Workaholism is steady compulsive work; manic defence spikes after a loss and carries triumph and contempt, not only overwork.
A test
Gently bring up the loss and watch whether the pace and brightness increase; acceleration as grief comes closer confirms manic defence.
Questions to carry
- As the talk comes closer to the loss, what happens to the pace and the brightness?
- Which loss have I stayed too busy to mourn?
How strong the research is
clinical. A Kleinian clinical concept with no direct experimental testing.
Where it comes from
Melanie Klein, 1935 and 1940; Donald Winnicott, 1935
On the family tree: Melanie Klein