Manifestations of psychological defenses in decoding graphic communication means in individuals with intellectual disabilities

The communicative abilities of modern adolescents with intellectual disabilities relate to the integration of information and communication technologies using visual-graphic means into their daily life. The ongoing study considered the assumption that the specificity of perception of visual information as a component of the public communicative field is expressed in maladaptive protective response in persons with intellectual disability. Analysis of psychophysiological indicators of decoding of graphic means of communication by the oculography method in persons with intellectual disability was carried out in the context of manifestations of psychological defenses. The study involved 148 students of educational institutions in St. Petersburg (Russian Federation) with the diagnosis F70 according to ICD-10 “mild mental retardation” - 70 girls and 78 boys (mean age 15,03 ± 0,94). Different patterns of oculomotor activity in visual perception of pictograms at different manifestations of psychological defenses are noted in adolescents with intellectual disability. The choice of defense mechanisms, more distorting reality or displacing information was manifested in the reduced quality of interpretation of visual and information. The article emphasizes the importance of focusing on research and psychoprophylactic attention to individual user needs in decoding graphic communication elements according to cognitive capabilities. By addressing these factors, researchers and practitioners can better tailor communication technologies to meet the unique needs of this population.