Intellectualization - in The Defence Hierarchy

In The Defence Hierarchy

Vaillant divided defence mechanisms into a hierarchy of 'immature defences, neurotic defences and mature defences...Immature being less healthy than neurotic '. The process of intellectualization '- we might imagine doing something violent without the violent feelings that would normally accompany that' - he placed among the '"neurotic" defences...which are typically used by mid-range people'.

In such a perspective, 'Intellectualisation and rationalisation...bridge the gap between immature mechanisms and those of maturity and often persist into adult life without leading to any overt problems'.

Rather less approbationally, Winnicott considered that erratic childhood care could lead to 'the overgrowth of the mental function...we find mental functioning becoming a thing in itself, practically replacing the good mother and making her unnecessary'. As a result, 'Winnicott seemed to imply...the figure he calls "the intellectual" is always retaliating, always backing a grudge'; and that 'a compulsive preoccupation with intellectual knowledge is an attempt to mother the self exclusively with the mind...emotionally impoverishing'. Something similar may be found in the character structure described by Kristeva, whereby 'symbolicity itself is cathected...Since it is not sex-oriented, it denies the question of sexual difference'; whilst Freud had long since indicated how in the obsessional 'the thought-process itself becomes sexualied...The very high average of intellectual capacity among obsessional patients is probably also connected to this fact'.

One answer to such over-intellectualization may be the sense of humour. Richard Hofstadter suggested that what was needed to prevent the intellect from 'being exercised in an excessively rigid way...i the quality I would call playfulness'. It may be no coincidence that 'Vaillant quotes Freud as saying: "Humour can be regarded as the highest of these defensive processes"!'.