Lazarus proposed that defensive behaviors may be detrimental to long-term stress management to the extent that they interfere with direct stress-coping strategies. Two studies considered this proposal for four cognitive defenses—projection, repression, rationalization, and denial—as well as the role of internal scanning as a moderator variable. Projection and denial were positively related to stress level over a 1-yr. period supporting the Lazarus view, but rationalization was inversely related. More specific effects considering breadth of scanning demonstrated all three defenses that function by evasion of information (projection, repression, and denial) showed positive relations with stress for narrow scanners but not for broad scanners. Rationalization presented the opposite pattern. Subjects combining rationalization with broad scanning were uniquely free of stress. An interpretation of these findings was proposed bearing upon the amount of information available to individuals regarding stressors that might influence direct strategies for reduction of stress.
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