EGO-CONTROL AND EGO-RESILIENCY

Running head: EGO CONTROL AND EGO-RESILIENCY

Block and Blocks Theory of Ego-Control and Ego-Resiliency Summarized

Tanya Weller

Student ID: 185301861

Psychology 230 Dr. Michelle McCarron

Unit 5 Short Assignment

October 6, 2013
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Block and Blocks Theory of Ego-Control and Ego-Resiliency Summarized

Post-Freud psychologists focused on the ego having a greater role than the id on its

ability to be actively involved in our decision making rather than the id being the driving factor.

The ego psychology viewthat the ego also serves as an adapterpresents the ego in a more

proactive role. The ego doesnt wait around for things to happen; it takes action. (McCarron,

2013). Jeanne Block and Jack Block emerged from this pool. Jeanne and Jack met at graduate

school at Stanford, where, together, they wrote interlocking studies for their professor on ego-

control/ego-resilience in 1950. (Harrington, 1994). Blocks theory breaks down into three

personality types the over-controlled ego, the under-controlled ego, and the resilient ego.

Over-controlled personalities have difficulty making decisions, may unnecessarily delay

gratification or deny themselves pleasure, are tightly organized, are insulated from environmental

distractions, and are able to continue even repetitive tasks for long periods of time. They are

further described as bland, consistent, dependable, and calm. (Letzring, Block, & Funder,

2004). The under-controlled ego displays itself by being self-dramatizing, unable to delay

gratification, unpredictable, assertive, rebellious, moody, and self-indulgent, according to

Letzring et al. (2004). Balancing out the two extreme ego dimensions, persons with resilient

characteristics are capable of adapting to trying events that occur around them. Resilient

individuals were described as possessing wide interests and a high aspiration level, assertive,

socially poised and skilled, and cheerful; and not self-defeating, emotionally bland, nor lacking

personal meaning in life. (Letzring et al., 2004).

Is it through trials and tribulations one becomes resilient? (e.g. parenting teens or conflict

with a second wife). Is resiliency generational? (e.g. learned behaviour from parents,

grandparents, etc). Perhaps, the ability to adapt is a combination of both heredity and learned
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behaviour? Are the weak in mind unable to see past their adversity? As one ages does ones

ability to adapt become stronger? These questions came about because I, initially, believed

resiliency in ones character was set at birth. After much thought and some research, doubts

emerge about the validity of this thinking. Predominately, my inclination is to be too far over on

the highly controlled side of the spectrum. (McCarron, 2013). During the first moments, even

extending to days, of conflict I tend to swing over to the poorly controlled side of the spectrum.

(McCarron, 2013). Thankfully, I am able to bounce back from negative events quite

effectively, whereas others are caught in a rut, seemingly unable to get out of their negative

streaks. (Ong, Zautra, & Reid, 2010).

Goolkasians activity survey scored me at 335/380, which places me high on the over-

control scale of personality. (1971). This seems to indicate how I tend to be without outside

advice guiding me. Ultimately, it is my decision to heed advice that facilitates adapting my

circumstances to prevent a situation of confusion and wild behaviour in which the [children]

are not controlled by rules or laws. (Anarchy, 2013). Seeking others opinions, which are

objective, helps me to think rationally instead of emotionally. Thus, settling into a mode of

resiliency is comfortable and peaceful for me and those I care for.

Recently, my 15 year old daughter and I had a conflict. She felt that I was being unfair

and restrictive regarding her time on personal devices and curfew allowances. I believed I was

right. Consequently, being a teenager, she rebelled. I ended up confiscating her personal devices

and putting them in my safety deposit box. I became more restrictive of her expected times to be

home. Not surprisingly, she and I locked horns. Neither of us was willing to compromise. The

saving grace was a call I put in to our counsellor who suggested that I was creating the tension

by my over-controlling personality. That was hard to hear because I was hoping that another
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would see my daughter as the problem. The counsellor suggested that I let up quite a bit and

allow my daughter freedom to start making her own choices, even if the choices lead her to make

mistakes. Even, big mistakes, she added. As soon as I let go of my pride and control, peace

and tranquility returned. By the way, my daughter is making many good choices!

On the other hand, a bully unwilling to mend her ways inflicts emotional pain upon her victim.

This is the case between the two biblical wives of Elkanah; Peninnah and Hannah. Hannah was

barren, so Elkanah took a second wife, Peninnah, with whom he sired several children. Peninnah

took it upon herself to torment and provoke Hannah to emotional distress because she was

jealous that Elkanah loved Hannah more than her, yet, this second wife bore him many children.

Peninnah did not move toward resilience but stayed an over-controlling woman. Though,

Hannah was irritated year after year, she embraced resilience as her saving grace, instead of

becoming embittered. Hannah means favour or grace, coincidentally. (Hannah, 2013). This does

not mean I believe that Hannah was gracious at all times, for she was as human as her rival.

However, Hannah chose to rise above the adversity forced upon her and adapted the best she

knew how. Hannah forgives her adversary and releases her own hurts. In the end, God rewarded

her patience and faith, gifting her with a son, Samuel, whom she dedicated to the Lord. (I Samuel

1: 1-28. New International Version).

Tugade and Fredrickson share that being able to move on despite negative stressors

does not demonstrate luck on the part of those successful individuals but demonstrates a

concept known as resilience. Additionally, they contribute, psychological resilience refers

to effective coping and adaptation although faced with loss, hardship, or adversity. (2011,

July 10). Conflicts do not just happen, but come about from lack of trust, fear or bitterness,

or a combination of all three. When we choose to step out in faith and forgive others and
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ourselves, to look past irritations, to move towards resilience, no matter which side of the

line we reside on, is to be victorious.

References
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Anarchy (2013). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/anarchy

Goolkasian, Paula. Modified version of the Jenkins activity survey (Jenkins, Zyzanski, &

Rosenman, 1971). The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Retrieved from

http://www.psych.uncc.edu/pagoolka/TypeAB.html/

Hannah (2013). Behind the name: the etymology and history of first names. Retrieved from

http://www.behindthename.com/name/hannah

Harrington, D. (Interviewer) and Block, Jack (Interviewee). (1994, May 1). SRCD Oral History

Interview [Interview transcript]. Retrieved from

http://www.srcd.org/sites/default/files/documents/block_jack_interview.pdf

Letzring, T.D., Block, J., & Funder, D.C. (2004). Ego-control and ego-resiliency: generalization

of self-report scales based on personality descriptions from acquaintances, clinicians,

and the self. Journal of Research in Personality. Retrieved from

http://www.rap.ucr.edu/erecjrp.pdf

McCarron, M. (2013). Unit 5: Neo-analytic perspective, part II: ego psychology [Online lecture

notes]. Retrieved from Psychology 230-397, UR Courses, University of Regina.

Ong, A.D., Zautra, A.J., & Reid, M.C. (2010, September 25). Psychological resilience predicts

decreases in pain catastrophizing through positive emotions. National Institutes of

Health. doi: 10.1037/a0019384

Tugade, M.M. & Fredrickson, B.L. (2011). Resilient individuals use positive emotions to bounce

back from negative emotional experiences. National Institutes of Health.

doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.86.2.320
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