What is psychological projection. How does it affect our relationships. What are the different types of projection. How can we recognize and manage projection in ourselves and others. What are the psychological theories behind projection. How does projection relate to other defense mechanisms. What is the impact of projection on mental health and society.

The Concept of Psychological Projection: Unraveling the Mind’s Defense Mechanism

Psychological projection is a fascinating mental process that plays a significant role in human behavior and interpersonal relationships. This defense mechanism, first introduced to psychology by Sigmund Freud, involves attributing one’s own thoughts, feelings, or motives to others. It’s a way for individuals to cope with uncomfortable or unacceptable aspects of themselves by projecting these qualities onto others.

To understand projection better, consider this scenario: A person who is highly critical of themselves might constantly perceive others as judging them harshly. In reality, this perception often stems from their own self-criticism rather than the actual attitudes of those around them. This example illustrates how projection can shape our perceptions of others and influence our social interactions.

The Origins of Projection in Psychology

Sigmund Freud borrowed the term “projection” from neurology, where it referred to the transmission of stimuli in the nervous system. In psychology, Freud applied this concept to describe how individuals externalize their internal experiences. Since its introduction, projection has become a cornerstone in understanding human behavior and psychological defense mechanisms.

The Dual Nature of Projection: From Empathy to Hostility

Projection is a complex phenomenon with both positive and negative manifestations. Depending on the qualities projected and whether they are acknowledged or denied in the self, projection can lead to diverse outcomes in interpersonal relationships and social dynamics.

Positive Aspects of Projection

In some cases, projection can foster empathy and understanding. When individuals project consciously recognized aspects of themselves onto others, it can lead to deep connections and emotional resonance. For instance, a parent who recognizes their child’s sadness by projecting their own experiences of sadness can offer comfort and support, creating a strong emotional bond.

Negative Consequences of Projection

Conversely, projection can also have detrimental effects, particularly when individuals project denied or unconscious aspects of themselves. This form of projection can lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, and even broader social issues such as racism, sexism, and homophobia. For example, research has suggested that some individuals with strong homophobic attitudes may be unconsciously projecting their own repressed same-sex attractions.

The Role of Projection in Paranoia and Mental Health

Projection plays a crucial role in various mental health conditions, particularly in paranoid states. Understanding this connection can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of paranoia and related psychological issues.

Projection and Paranoid Thinking

In paranoid states, individuals often project their own negative emotions or impulses onto others, leading to irrational fears or beliefs. This can manifest as unfounded fears of persecution, intense jealousy without evidence, or even erotomania (the delusional belief that someone is in love with them). These projections serve as a defense against acknowledging these feelings or tendencies within oneself.

How does projection contribute to paranoid thinking? When individuals project their own hostile or negative thoughts onto others, they perceive the external world as threatening or malevolent. This reinforces their paranoid beliefs, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of fear and mistrust.

Projective Identification: A Advanced Form of Projection

Melanie Klein, a prominent figure in psychoanalytic theory, introduced the concept of projective identification, which represents a more complex form of projection. This process involves not only projecting one’s feelings or thoughts onto another but also remaining identified with what is projected and inducing similar feelings in the other person.

The Mechanism of Projective Identification

In projective identification, the individual not only attributes their internal state to another but also behaves in ways that elicit that state in the other person. For example, a person who is angry might project this anger onto their partner, perceive their partner as the angry one, and then behave in ways that actually provoke anger in their partner. This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy, reinforcing the initial projection.

What distinguishes projective identification from simple projection? Unlike simple projection, projective identification involves a more active process of inducing the projected feelings or behaviors in the other person, often through subtle emotional pressure or manipulation.

Neurological Basis of Projection: Insights from Neuroscience

Recent advancements in neuroscience have provided fascinating insights into the neurological underpinnings of projection and related phenomena. These discoveries are helping to bridge the gap between psychological theories and biological processes.

Mirror Neurons and Projection

The discovery of mirror neurons has shed light on the neurological basis of empathy and projection. These neurons fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe someone else performing the same action. This neural mechanism may underlie our ability to project our own experiences onto others and understand their mental states.

Right-Brain Communication and Intuitive Projection

Research on right-brain-to-right-brain communication processes has revealed how nonverbal, emotional, and intuitive information is shared between individuals, particularly in caregiver-child relationships. This communication involves the exchange of emotional states through facial expressions, body language, and vocal intonation, providing a neurological basis for intuitive forms of projection.

How do these neurological processes contribute to projection? These mechanisms allow for rapid, often unconscious, transmission of emotional and psychological states between individuals, facilitating both empathic understanding and potentially problematic forms of projection.

Recognizing and Managing Projection in Daily Life

Understanding projection can be immensely valuable in navigating personal relationships and improving self-awareness. By recognizing instances of projection in ourselves and others, we can work towards healthier interactions and more authentic self-understanding.

Signs of Projection in Relationships

• Frequent misattribution of emotions or motives to others
• Strong, seemingly irrational reactions to others’ behaviors
• Difficulty accepting personal flaws or mistakes
• Tendency to blame others for one’s own feelings or problems
• Persistent feelings of being judged or criticized by others

Strategies for Managing Projection

1. Practice self-reflection to identify your own emotions and motivations
2. Seek feedback from trusted friends or a therapist to gain outside perspective
3. Challenge your assumptions about others’ intentions
4. Develop empathy by considering alternative explanations for others’ behaviors
5. Work on accepting and integrating disowned aspects of yourself

How can we differentiate between genuine intuition and projection? While it can be challenging, developing self-awareness and practicing mindfulness can help distinguish between accurate perceptions of others and projections of our own internal states.

The Impact of Projection on Society and Culture

Projection extends beyond individual psychology, influencing broader social and cultural phenomena. Understanding how projection operates on a societal level can provide insights into various social issues and cultural dynamics.

Projection in Social Prejudices

Many forms of social prejudice, including racism, sexism, and xenophobia, can be partly attributed to projection. Individuals or groups may project their own fears, insecurities, or negative qualities onto other groups, leading to stereotyping and discrimination.

How does projection contribute to the persistence of social prejudices? By attributing negative qualities to others, individuals or groups can maintain a positive self-image while avoiding confronting their own shortcomings or fears. This can reinforce existing biases and make them resistant to change.

Cultural Projections and International Relations

On a larger scale, projection can influence how nations perceive and interact with each other. Cultural misunderstandings, stereotypes, and conflicts can often be traced back to projections of one culture’s values, fears, or aspirations onto another.

What role does projection play in international conflicts? Nations may project their own aggressive intentions onto others, leading to a cycle of mistrust and escalating tensions. Recognizing these projections can be crucial in diplomatic efforts and conflict resolution.

Projection in Therapy and Personal Growth

In therapeutic settings, understanding and working with projection can be a powerful tool for personal growth and healing. Many forms of psychotherapy involve helping individuals recognize and integrate projected aspects of themselves.

Therapeutic Approaches to Projection

• Psychodynamic therapy: Explores unconscious projections and their origins
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: Challenges distorted thoughts that may lead to projection
• Gestalt therapy: Uses role-playing to bring awareness to projections
• Mindfulness-based approaches: Cultivates present-moment awareness to reduce automatic projections

How can therapy help individuals manage projection? Therapy provides a safe space to explore one’s inner world, confront disowned aspects of the self, and develop healthier ways of relating to others and oneself.

Self-Help Strategies for Dealing with Projection

1. Journaling to identify patterns of projection in your life
2. Practicing mindfulness meditation to increase self-awareness
3. Seeking honest feedback from trusted friends or family members
4. Challenging your initial assumptions about others’ motives
5. Developing compassion for yourself and others

What are the benefits of recognizing and managing projection? By becoming aware of our projections, we can improve our relationships, reduce conflicts, and develop a more authentic sense of self.

The Future of Projection Research: Emerging Trends and Questions

As our understanding of the human mind continues to evolve, so too does our knowledge of projection and related psychological processes. Current and future research in this area promises to shed new light on this fundamental aspect of human psychology.

Integrating Neuroscience and Psychology

Ongoing research is exploring the neural correlates of projection, using advanced brain imaging techniques to understand how projection manifests in brain activity. This integration of neuroscience and psychology may provide more precise insights into the mechanisms underlying projection.

Cultural Variations in Projection

Another area of growing interest is the study of cultural differences in projection. Researchers are investigating how cultural norms and values influence the nature and expression of projection across different societies.

How might cultural factors shape the way projection operates? Cultural beliefs about the self, relationships, and emotional expression may all influence how projection manifests and is interpreted in different cultural contexts.

Projection in the Digital Age

The rise of social media and online interactions presents new questions about how projection operates in digital spaces. Researchers are exploring how the anonymity and distance of online communication might affect projection processes.

What are the implications of projection in online environments? Understanding how projection manifests in digital interactions could have important implications for managing online conflicts, cyberbullying, and the spread of misinformation.

Conclusion: The Continuing Relevance of Projection in Psychology

Psychological projection remains a crucial concept in understanding human behavior and mental processes. From its roots in psychoanalytic theory to its applications in modern therapy and neuroscience, projection continues to offer valuable insights into how we perceive ourselves and others.

As we’ve explored, projection can have both positive and negative effects on our relationships and mental health. By recognizing and managing our own projections, we can improve our self-awareness, enhance our relationships, and contribute to a more empathetic and understanding society.

The study of projection also highlights the complex interplay between our inner worlds and our external reality. As research in this field continues to evolve, it promises to deepen our understanding of the human mind and offer new strategies for personal growth and social harmony.

Ultimately, the concept of projection reminds us of the profound interconnectedness of human experience. By understanding how we project our inner states onto the world around us, we gain not only insight into ourselves but also a greater capacity for empathy and connection with others.

Projection | Definition, Theories, & Facts

Sigmund Freud

See all media

Related Topics:

defense mechanism

See all related content →

projection, the mental process by which people attribute to others what is in their own minds. For example, individuals who are in a self-critical state, consciously or unconsciously, may think that other people are critical of them. The concept was introduced to psychology by the Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (1856–1939), who borrowed the word projection from neurology, where it referred to the inherent capacity of neurons to transmit stimuli from one level of the nervous system to another (e.g., the retina “projects” to the occipital cortex, where raw sensory input is rendered into visual images). In contemporary psychological science the term continues to have the meaning of seeing the self in the other. This presumably universal tendency of the human social animal has both positive and negative effects. Depending on what qualities are projected and whether or not they are denied in the self, projection can be the basis of both warm empathy and cold hatred.

In projection, what is internal is seen as external. People cannot get inside the minds of others; to understand someone else’s mental life, one must project one’s own experience. When someone projects what is consciously true of the self and when the projection “fits,” the person who is the object of projection may feel deeply understood. Thus, a sensitive father infers from his daughter’s facial expression that she is feeling sad; he knows that when he himself is sad, his face is similar. If he names the child’s assumed emotion, she may feel recognized and comforted. Intuition, leaps of nonverbal synchronicity (as when two persons in a relationship suddenly find themselves making similar gestures or thinking of the same image simultaneously), and peak experiences of mystical union (as when one feels perfectly attuned with an idealized other person, such as a romantic partner) involve a projection of the self into the other, often with powerful emotional rewards. Neuroscientific discoveries regarding mirror neurons and right-brain-to-right-brain communication processes (in which intuitive, emotional, nonverbal, and analogical thinking is shared between caregivers and children via intonation, facial affect, and body language) are establishing the neurological bases of such long-noted projective phenomena.

On the other hand, projection frequently functions as a psychological defense against painful internal states (“I am not the person feeling this; you are!”). When people project aspects of the self that are denied, unconscious, and hated and when they distort the object of projection in the process, projection can be felt as invalidating and destructive. At a social level, racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, and other malignant “othering” mindsets have been attributed at least partly to projection. There is research evidence, for example, that men with notably homophobic attitudes have higher-than-average same-sex arousal, of which they are unaware. Projection of disowned states of mind is also a central dynamic in paranoia as traditionally conceptualized. Paranoid states such as fears of persecution, irrational hatred of an individual or group, consuming jealousy in the absence of evidence of betrayal, and the conviction that a desired person desires oneself (i.e., erotomania, the psychology behind stalking) result from the projection of unconscious negative states of mind (e.g., hostility, envy, hatred, contempt, vanity, sadism, lust, greed, weakness, etc.). In other words, paranoia involves both the disowning of a personal tendency and the conviction that this tendency is “coming at” oneself from external sources.

The Austrian-born British psychoanalyst Melanie Klein (1882–1960) wrote about a primal form of projection, “projective identification,” that she assumed to derive from the earliest mental life of children, before they feel psychologically separate from caregivers. Via this process, which has become an important concept in contemporary psychoanalytic thinking, a person tries to expel a state of mind by projecting it but remains identified with what is projected, is convinced of the accuracy of the attribution, and induces in the object of projection the feelings or impulses that have been projected. For example, a man in a rage projects his anger onto his wife, whom he now sees as the angry one. He insists it is her hostility that stimulated his rage, and almost immediately his wife becomes angry. Projective identification exerts emotional pressure that evokes in the other whatever has been projected. Another example: A woman in psychotherapy experiences her therapist’s ending a session on time as a sadistic attack. She loudly berates him for abusing her, accusing him of enjoying hurting her. In response to this denunciation and its misrepresentation of his motives, the normally compassionate therapist notices that he is having sadistic thoughts. The projection has become a self-fulfilling fantasy. Because projective identification is a particularly challenging defense to deal with in psychotherapy, it has spawned an extensive psychoanalytic literature.

Contrary to widespread professional opinion, however, projective identification is not simply a defense used by people with disorders of development and personality (see also mental disorders: Personality disorders). It operates in everyday life in numerous subtle ways, many of which are not pathological. For example, when what is projected and identified with involves loving, joyful affects, a group can experience a rush of good feeling. People in love can sometimes read one another’s minds in ways that cannot be accounted for logically. Because such emotional contagion occurs ubiquitously, many contemporary psychoanalysts have reframed as “intersubjective” what was once seen as the patient’s one-way projection onto the therapist. That is, both parties in a therapeutic relationship (or any relationship) inevitably share a mutually determined emotional atmosphere.

Klein’s writing led to a general professional acknowledgment that projection has more primitive and more mature forms. In its earliest expressions, self and other are not well differentiated. In mature projection, the other is understood to have a separate subjective life, with motives that may differ from one’s own. Before age three, children tend to assume that the emotional effect of an action was its intention. When caregivers set unwelcome limits, very young children react with normal, temporary hatred and accuse the parents of hating them. A slightly older child understands that when his mother’s limit-setting angers him, her act does not necessarily mean she is angry with him. Philosophers use the term “theory of mind” to denote this capacity to see others as having independent subjectivities. Contemporary psychoanalytic theorists and researchers refer to it as “mentalization.” Although a benign use of projection is the basis for understanding others’ psychologies, in mentalization there is little distortion of the other person’s mind because there is no automatic equation of it with the mind of the observer.

Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content.

Subscribe Now

Empirical studies of defense mechanisms have supported clinical observations about projection, including the idea that it is one of many universal psychological defenses that evolve and mature in normal development. Understanding projection has been critically important to psychiatry, clinical psychology, counseling, and the mental health professions generally. It has also been cited as an explanatory principle in political science, sociology, anthropology, and other social sciences.

Nancy McWilliams

What It Is and More I Psych Central

Acknowledging we have undesirable feelings is sometimes so difficult that we reassign, or project, them onto someone else.

You don’t wake up and decide to project your feelings onto someone.

Psychological projection is usually a subconscious action. Your brain isn’t ready to process what you’re feeling, but it still wants an outside perspective of what’s going on.

Projection is not uncommon. Many people don’t even realize they’re doing it unless someone points it out.

While “projecting” on someone may sound sinister, there are harmless examples of projection in everyday life, too.

Projection is a psychological behavior explored initially and developed by Sigmund Freud.

It can occur when you’re feeling something you might not be mentally ready to deal with, so you deflect it onto someone else.

From the expert

“Projection is seeing something unconsciously experienced inside and placing it on someone else,” explains Timothy Yen, PsyD, Bay Area, California. “In some cases, projection can be something that bothers the individual about him or herself, but they may be unable or unwilling to deal with the issue.”

Was this helpful?

There are three common types of projection:

• complementary projection: assuming others already share your beliefs
• complimentary projection: assuming others have the same level of ability as you do
• neurotic projection: assigning undesirable emotions or feelings onto someone else

While in Freud’s original theory on projection, the thoughts and feelings you reassign were always inherently negative, this isn’t always the case.

Assuming everyone sees the same green hue as you, for example, is a more harmless form of projection not necessarily linked to an undesired feeling.

When you project onto someone, you may take an emotion you’re feeling — like anger — and say that the other person is actually the angry one.

It’s a way of addressing an experience without fixing the inner conflict.

Yen says he has personally experienced projection during an interaction with someone he knew.

“I found him really obnoxious and attention-seeking, which bothered me,” he says. “Upon deeper reflection, I was projecting my own disgust of seeking attention, and being with him took away the attention that I actually wanted for myself.”

According to Yen, criticizing this person would have made him hypocritical, so the projection was a safer psychological way of expressing his thoughts and feelings.

Examples

Examples of projection could include statements such as:

What’s said	Projected feeling
“If I can do it, you can do it, too. ”	You may assume everyone has your ability.
“I know they hate me.”	You may dislike the person.
“Why are you so angry with me?”	You may be frustrated and irritable from your day.
“They’re really stuck up.”	You may feel unhappy they didn’t pay attention to you.
“She wears way too much makeup.”	You may be uncomfortable with your own makeup skills.

Projection doesn’t have to be spoken. Sometimes the things you do can be a form of projection.

Having a party with vegan-only foods because you assume everyone dislikes the flavor of meat can also be an example of projection.

Was this helpful?

Not every accusation or reaction is projection.

For example, someone may be accusing you of infidelity based on evidence or rumors and not because they’re secretly harboring their own thoughts of cheating.

According to Freud, feelings being projected are often:

• jealousy
• control
• angry
• sexual

When these feelings are projected onto you, they can come as a surprise because they’re often unwarranted.

Try to be on the lookout for extreme reactions without reasonable cause or explanation.

The old saying “the punishment must fit the crime” can be a good standard to use when evaluating if someone may be projecting onto you.

Projection is a psychological defense mechanism.

Defense mechanisms help prevent you from feeling stress, mainly related to inner conflict. They buffer you against things that might hurt your sense of self.

Projection falls into the same category as self-preservation processes like denial or dissociation.

According to Yen, projection is seen most commonly in relationships. It can manifest as traits that would bother you, seen in your partner.

“I’ve heard it said that being married or in a long-term relationship is like looking at oneself in a mirror and seeing our real selves,” he explains. “By spending so much time with another person, we may start to see our own flaws in the other person.”

One of the most common relationship examples of projection is that of unfaithfulness. The partner who is unfaithful or has unfaithful thoughts may accuse the other partner of infidelity.

Projection in a relationship can happen in other ways, too.

You might make decisions without consulting your partner because you think they share your opinion. For example, you might buy an orange lamp because you thought your partner loved orange. But that’s your favorite color. Their favorite color might be purple.

But you projected your preferences onto them.

Projection can occur with no underlying mental health condition. It can be the result of a stressful day or current life choices.

Sometimes, however, projection can be a sign of something more.

Projection and paranoia can sometimes be linked in mental health. Paranoia is a form of projection where an irrational mistrust of others may cause someone to view innocent people as threats.

Projection may also be seen as a trait in other mental health conditions, particularly personality disorders.

Research suggests people living with personality disorders, like narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder, may display excessive use of projection and other specific defense mechanisms.

“Like with any defense mechanism, stopping projection requires self-awareness that it is occurring in the first place,” says Yen.

Because most people project without realizing it, recognizing the signs can be an essential part of breaking the behavior cycle.

According to Yen, one of the most significant tell-tale signs is the presence of strong feelings toward another person.

Are you feeling unreasonably angry toward someone? Is there a co-worker at the office you don’t like to be around? Do you feel heavy anxiety about bumping into your neighbor at the mailbox?

When you feel strongly toward another person, Yen recommends taking a step back and evaluating your response.

Is it something about them that bothers you, or something about you that you’re seeing in that person?

“When we’re able to see the issue that we’re projecting,” he notes, “then we can find a healthier way to address it. ”

You may be able to help decrease everyday projection through self-reflection processes like mindfulness.

Mindfulness teaches you to be aware of your thoughts without judgment. It can help slow down those gut reactions that may lead to projection.

Projection is a mental defense mechanism that pushes your feelings, thoughts, and emotions onto those around you.

Some projections can be harmless, but some projections can cause lasting damage to relationships.

If you think you may be experiencing projection that’s impairing your daily life, consider reaching out to a mental health professional. They can work with you to determine whether there’s something else going on and come up with a plan to move forward.

how to notice and what to do, Psychology – Gestalt Club

Projections are bringing your inner material out and
projecting it onto the outside world. Thus we get into
through the looking glass of our own inner world and we are not aware of it.

We are among people, but we do not see them, we talk, but
we do not hear them, our subjective reality is everywhere, but we do not
we realize it.

What can we project into the external
world? These can be: phenomena of perception, feelings,
thoughts, values, plans.

For example: everyone around me seems angry,
I am not aware of my anger and aggression, and I project it onto others. All
around me seem suspicious, greedy, envious,
corrupt, toadies, or vice versa, kind, sweet,
respectable – the power of projections is great. This is a reflection of our
inner world. I feel that they offended me, not a fact,
maybe I feel guilty about something. It seems to me
condemn – I feel shame for something.

When projected – people are their own
attributes undesirable features to others, and in this way protects himself
from the awareness of these traits in oneself. The projection mechanism allows
justify your own actions.

For example, I accuse someone of being
I am cold, to blame for my problems with work, with my personal life,
we blame the person, i.e. we want him to take over us
responsibility. Not noticing that we do not take it upon ourselves and
projecting it onto someone else.

When a person projects certain qualities onto others, he
protects himself from being aware of these traits in himself.

Projection is a defense mechanism, it allows a person to
consider as strangers own shadow
content (unacceptable feelings, desires, motives, ideas
etc.), and as a result, do not feel for them
responsibility.

The negative consequence of such protection is
the desire to correct the external object onto which it is projected
something negative, or get rid of it altogether in order to
so get rid of the “caused by him” feelings. The external object, meanwhile,
may have nothing to do with what’s on it
projected.

For example , it seems to me that no one is with me
friends, no one loves me, no one hears me, no one listens, no one
notices. We project material from the inner world into the outer.
It could sound like this: I do not hear myself and, accordingly, no one
I don’t hear, I don’t value myself and others as well, although I may need them,
I do not notice anyone, I do not like. Those. what’s going on inside me
projecting outward and not noticing that I myself find myself in this looking-glass
the world of one’s own psyche.

We are not all projection free. But the more a person
alienates the inner part from itself, transfers it to another and does not
recognizes it for itself, the more the projection is malignant.

Acute form of this: mental
diseases are hallucinations.

Projections are mirrors, you need them to see yourself. They
reflect only the one who looks at them.

But often it turns into a journey through the kingdom of “crooked
mirrors.”

What helps you notice that you
project:

1. There are many assessments, interpretations, judgments in speech that
others think, do, feel, appreciate, experience.

2. Lots of assumptions about how others think and feel about
towards us.

3. Frequent predictions of other people’s behavior.

4. The projection is very fond of the lack of information, the less we
we know something, the easier we project.

How to work with projections:

1.
self-reflection . Ability to recognize your emotions and feelings
automatically we will be insured against a pronounced projection. Then we
we will understand where our feelings and thoughts are, and where others are.

2. Projection assignment. If we’re talking about something
we say, for example: “No one loves me, no one appreciates me, I
nobody needs it, etc.” It is useful to ask the question: How do I know this?
Who told me about this? How did I feel or see it? From
whom? On what basis did I draw this conclusion?

This may help you to come to your senses and understand: well
probably about all this, I got excited! Then who exactly? If
to single out these people, you can directly ask how they treat me
relate? What do they feel for me?

And who do I love? Who do I appreciate? If so, is it correct in response
I’m not loved and appreciated? Do I love and appreciate myself?

The next moment, for example, we decided that no one loves me
and does not appreciate, nobody needs me, nobody cares about me! Ask
myself, how do I do it? What do I feel about this? For example
answer: it’s a shame, it’s sad!

Then is it equally indifferent to everyone? And who is the most
it’s a shame that you don’t care? Whose attitude is important to us, and whose attitude is so-so
possible without it. If we identify a person who is very important to us,
then we can do something along those lines. Can a person
say about it that it is offensive, that it is indifferent or that the person is important
for us. We will definitely be noticed!

3. Also try speaking from the first
faces: instead of “you don’t want to see me” – “I don’t want
to see you”, instead of “you probably have a hard time with me” – “I
perhaps it is not easy with you, with yourself. And ask if this
share of truth.

The topic of projections is important because it gives
the ability to see the world more clearly, more objectively, more
transparent. I take back my projections – by clearing
situations, by dealing with topics that are painful to me. projections
indicate our places of work and points of development. Projection Assignment
it can be unpleasant, but it gives you the opportunity to take responsibility
in all my life. To see her and myself more clearly and objectively, then
the reality is clear, what is happening, where I am and where I am
move.

Projection in psychology: examples, principles, mechanism

The world of human relations is complex and, unfortunately, does not always bring us joy. There are often moments that cause resentment and bitterness, irritation or disappointment. These are heavy feelings that I would like to get rid of, and a person has unconsciously learned to protect his psyche from excessive overload and negativity. Z. Freud was the first to study and describe psychological defense mechanisms, having determined that projection is one of the most ancient and primitive mechanisms.

CONTENTS

• 1 What is projection
  • 1.1 How it works
  • 1.2 Projection and empathy
• 2 Types of projection
• 3 Min mustache and projection pluses

What is projection

Do you know how a projector works? It transfers the image from the film to the screen. Also, a person often transfers, projects his feelings, thoughts, desires onto others. Most often these are unpleasant thoughts and desires. Shame and guilt are difficult experiences, and a person seeks to get rid of them so as not to injure his psyche. Moreover, he does not just take his sins and dark thoughts out of his consciousness, but gives them to other people. So it’s easier for him – no need to blame yourself, because others are no better, and even worse.

Thus, the most jealous are always husbands who themselves are not averse to cheating on their wife. But since they have such thoughts and desires, should a woman have them too? And this has its own, albeit perverted, logic. And the wife who accuses her husband of spending extra on “his whims and toys” is not very economical herself. She really wants these shoes or a blouse, but her husband is no better than her. And when we condemn our neighbors or colleagues, we remember, first of all, those unpleasant qualities that are inherent in ourselves.

You say this is bad and I never do that. No, don’t be fooled, everyone does it, and so do you.

How it works

The protective mechanism of projection is inherent in all people and is formed in early childhood. It is born from the prohibitions that society dictates to us. In the process of upbringing, ideas about good and bad, about what is permitted and unacceptable, are formed and fixed in the mind. The child very early begins to understand that it is bad to show aggression, offend the weak, insult other people, and take away toys. The older a person becomes, the more prohibitions society dictates to him. They create conditions for negative experiences, because even wishing for the forbidden is bad, unacceptable. And a person seeks to protect himself from these unpleasant emotions, to get out of the internal conflict between the desired and the permissible. So the well-known reaction arises: “You yourself (a), to blame (a)!”

Projection is one of the oldest types of psychological defense, and its mechanism is simple. It always works according to the following scheme:

1. The individual feels discomfort, shame, irritation, which are caused by forbidden desires and his/her wrong behavior from the point of view of social norms.
2. In an effort to get rid of negative emotions, a person takes unacceptable desires and urges beyond the limits of his consciousness.
3. Attributes these motives to other people so that he himself would not be so ashamed, because “everyone is like that, everyone does it.”

That is why the “old maids”, preoccupied with their “wrong” thoughts and desires, are so vigorously fighting the “debauchery” of the youth. And a drunkard in moments of sobriety with anger stigmatizes an alcoholic neighbor.

The projection mechanism adds fuel to the fire of inter-ethnic conflicts, because most often representatives of one nation accuse their enemies of sins inherent in themselves. And the more these sins, the more aggressive people become. Most often, we blame those whom we ourselves have offended. Why? To not be ashamed and not to feel guilty.

The people who most loudly accuse officials of stealing are those who themselves would not mind warming their hands, but do not have this opportunity. And rejecting their own desires, these accusers project them onto those who have such an opportunity.

Projection and empathy

Projection is connected not only with shameful thoughts and antisocial desires. The process of transferring emotional states underlies such an important socio-psychological phenomenon as empathy. Empathy in psychology refers to the ability of a person to experience the same feelings as his partner. This is compassion, empathy, which is based on personal emotional experience. It is this experience that the individual transfers to other people, imagining how they should feel in a familiar situation. Therefore, the suffering or joy of another can only be understood by one who himself suffered and rejoiced.

Without the ability to project one’s emotional experience, mutual understanding is impossible. Although the projection does not always reflect the objective state of affairs. We can empathize with a person, think how bad he is, because in a similar situation it was very difficult for us. But this does not mean that the person is really suffering. People are different, and the circumstances in which they find themselves are also different. But the more emotionally close individuals are, the more accurately they understand each other’s state.

Views

The manifestations of projection in our lives and in our relationships with other people are varied. Usually, 4 main types of it are distinguished:

• Attributive projection is based on attributing by an individual the motives of his behavior to other people. Usually these are urges condemned by society or unacceptable by the person himself. (“Greedy!” the child shouts to a peer who does not want to treat him with candy).
• The complementary projection is somewhat opposite to the attributive one and manifests itself in ascribing to oneself qualities that are opposite to those that are rejected. (“I am strong and brave, and you are just a coward and a weakling!”).
• Rational is the justification of one’s mistakes and failures by blaming others for some shortcomings, weaknesses, unprofessionalism. (“The project would have been successful if such mediocrity and lazy people did not work with me in the team.” “We would have an ideal marriage if my husband cared more about the family”).
• Autistic projection is the projection of one’s needs into the outside world. It is well illustrated by the saying: “A fisherman sees a fisherman from afar.” A hungry man first of all pays attention to food, and a woman who has survived her husband’s betrayal sees only traitors and traitors among the surrounding men. She simply does not notice others.

Quite often in human behavior and his perception of the surrounding world, different types of projection interact. This is especially true for people who are insecure, weighed down by complexes and feelings of guilt.

Minuses and pluses of projection

Although this psychological defense refers to the natural reactions of our psyche to difficult social situations, its minuses are obvious and visible, one might say, to the naked eye. These include the following consequences of using projection:

• distortion of reality – we see not what we actually have, but what we would like to see;
• inadequate assessment of other people’s behavior;
• interpersonal conflicts due to attributing our own sins to partners;
• Hiding his shortcomings behind the projection, a person does not seek to get rid of them.

However, the projection is not in vain attributed to the mechanisms of psychological defense. Removal from the consciousness of those thoughts and motives that the person himself considers harmful, bad, helps him to cope with the internal conflict. Otherwise, this conflict could lead to the development of such diseases as neurosis, psychosis, and depression. After all, you see, it’s hard to constantly blame only yourself. The fact that the projection protects a person from destructive feelings of guilt is a definite plus.

The second advantage is the role of projection in empathy, as discussed above.