How we (do not) trust: defensive profiles of epistemic trust and its disruptions

Abstract Defining and measuring epistemic trust and its disruptions have significantly enriched recent empirical research, broadening the attachment and mentalization theory paradigm to understand how epistemic stances inform individual and interpersonal functioning. While numerous studies have explored their relationships with different psycho(patho)logical dimensions, the interplay between epistemic stances and defense mechanisms remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate this interaction by developing defensive profiles of epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity. 416 Italian participants completed the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ) and Defense Mechanisms Rating Scale-Self-Report-30 (DMRS-SR-30). Epistemic trust correlated positively with more mature defensive functioning and negatively with immature defenses. Conversely, Epistemic mistrust and credulity were associated with less adaptive defenses, with mistrust showing a stronger relationship with immature defenses, pointing to more severely compromised global functioning than credulity. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed specific associations of each epistemic stance with distinct defense mechanisms, delineating three coherent defensive profiles. The findings underscore the importance of differentiating specific defense patterns related to epistemic trust and its disruptions. These defensive profiles of epistemic trust, mistrust, and credulity offer valuable insight for understanding individuals' intra- and interpersonal functioning and promoting the development of tailored interventions for psychological well-being.