Abbey-Roads2

It’s gay.

LOL!  Well, kinda, sorta.  It (DD) is a therapeutic term used for persons who consider their homosexuality more as a developmental disorder.  I believe it is a relatively new term originating in the research of therpists dealing with homosexuality as a treatable, and sometimes curable condition.  A leader in this reparative therapy is Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, I will let him explain what DD really is:

Defensive detachment is really the psychological armor, barrier or defense of the personality which keeps homosexuality alive. You might see defensive detachment as a sort of cell that protects the person and also protects the homosexuality inside. It’s an anticipation of being hurt and rejected by other men. And this comes from the earlier rejection by the father.

The predicament of the male homosexual is that he is sexually attracted to men but, because of his defensive detachment, keeps an emotional distance from them. It prevents him from getting what he really wants, which is to have those emotional needs met. So the focus of therapy is to get him to drop that defensive detachment so he can allow himself to experience the healing benefits of non-sexual, intimate male relationships. - Source 

My non-gay use of the term.

Call me presumptuous, but I believe the term ‘defensive detachment’ works for other disorders as well, indeed, I think it can be given an entirely different meaning for ascetical purposes, wherein detachment is a key ingredient for spiritual growth.  That said, I also think the term may be applied to other conditions or disorders.

Take the alcoholic for instance, his withdrawal and isolation from friends, family, and social situations, might be termed ‘defensive detachment’ - in so far as he uses it to facilitate his drinking.  I’m not a psychologist of course, but I like the term so well that I use it in relationship to the life of the pilgrim or fool for Christ, in the sense of a purely ascetical practice.

“The watchmen came upon me as they made the city rounds, and they struck me and wounded me.”  - Song of Songs 5:7

Humility and detachment play a vital part in the lives of such ascetics.  In order to protect their spiritual way of life, they necessarily employ a form of DD.  They leave home, property, family, and in the case of St. Alexius - a wife, to pursue a life of prayer and penance.  If for some reason, their hidden life of devotion and good works is discovered by others along the way, and the pilgrim is soon accorded accolades or respect, or honors, for his talents, virtue, or holiness, the ascetic resumes his pilgrimage, fleeing the company and legitimate friendship of men. 

Therefore, this ‘flight’ may be understood as a form of ‘defensive detachment’ - to avoid all forms of pride and vainglory or preferential treatment.  He seeks to avoid all honors or position, even the notion of leading or directing others, lest he fall into the trap of trying to control rather than living abandoned to Divine Providence.  Thus to protect his spiritual life - that is, to remain faithful to his call - he is unable to oblige the company of men, particular intimacies and friendships, as well as social obligations; and often-times legitimate employment itself does not work out. 

“I hardly left them when I found him whom my heart loves.” - Song of Songs 3:4

For the pilgrim, it is much the same as a person fleeing an occasion of sin, or avoiding a person, place or thing which may pose a near occasion of sin.   It is practically a required penance or discipline, a ‘defensive detachment”.  For if a pilgrim would consent to normal intercourse with others, he would soon lose the grace of God, who in order to share his humility and abasement with him, calls him apart from following the crowd. 

“And then we will go on

To the high caverns in the rock

Which are so well concealed;

There we shall enter

and taste the fresh juice of the

pomegranates.”  - Spiritual Canticle; 36