What does projection mean in psychology. Psychological Projection: Understanding and Addressing Undesirable Emotions
What is psychological projection. How does projection manifest in everyday life. Can projection be addressed in therapy. How to recognize if you’re projecting. What are the origins of projection theory in psychology. How does projective identification differ from projection. Why do people engage in psychological projection.
The Fundamentals of Psychological Projection
Psychological projection is a defense mechanism where individuals attribute their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses to others. This unconscious process serves as a way to cope with difficult emotions and protect one’s self-esteem. By displacing these undesirable traits onto others, people can avoid confronting them within themselves.
The concept of projection was first introduced by Sigmund Freud in 1895 and has since been developed by other prominent psychologists, including his daughter Anna Freud, Carl Jung, and Marie-Louise von Franz. While Freud initially viewed projection as a means of ego defense, more recent research suggests it may be a byproduct of thought suppression rather than a direct defensive mechanism.
Origins and Evolution of Projection Theory
Freud’s initial observation of projection came from a patient who attributed her feelings of shame to gossip from neighbors. This laid the groundwork for understanding how individuals might externalize internal conflicts. Jung and von Franz later expanded on this concept, proposing that projection also serves as a way to make sense of the unknown, reflecting a human desire for a more predictable world.
Contemporary research has challenged some aspects of Freud’s original hypothesis. Some psychologists argue that projection may not directly defend the ego but rather result from attempts to suppress thoughts, which paradoxically makes them more prominent in one’s perception of the world.
Recognizing Projection in Daily Life
Projection can manifest in various aspects of daily life, from casual interactions to intimate relationships. Recognizing these patterns is crucial for understanding and navigating social conflicts.
- A person with low self-esteem might frequently criticize others’ appearances
- Someone struggling with fidelity might accuse their partner of cheating
- An individual grappling with dishonesty might become overly suspicious of others’ truthfulness
Is projection always harmful? While projection can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts, it’s not inherently negative. In some cases, it can serve as a temporary coping mechanism. However, persistent projection can strain relationships and hinder personal growth.
Common Scenarios of Projection
Projection often occurs in emotionally charged situations or when individuals feel threatened. Some common scenarios include:
- Workplace conflicts where personal insecurities are projected onto colleagues
- Family dynamics where unresolved childhood issues are projected onto current relationships
- Political disagreements where one’s fears or prejudices are attributed to opposing groups
- Social media interactions where users project their own insecurities onto others’ posts
The Psychology Behind Projection
Why do people engage in psychological projection? The roots of projection often lie in unconscious discomfort with certain aspects of oneself. By attributing these traits to others, individuals can:
- Maintain a positive self-image
- Avoid confronting painful emotions or memories
- Deflect responsibility for their actions or feelings
- Create a sense of distance from undesirable traits
Projection serves as a psychological buffer, allowing individuals to process difficult emotions without fully acknowledging them within themselves. This mechanism can provide temporary relief but may hinder long-term emotional growth and self-awareness.
The Unconscious Nature of Projection
Is projection a conscious choice? Typically, projection operates on an unconscious level. People are usually unaware that they are projecting their own traits onto others. This unconscious nature makes projection challenging to recognize and address without external insight or professional help.
The unconscious aspect of projection also explains why it can be so persistent and difficult to change. Individuals may strongly resist suggestions that they are projecting, as acknowledging this would require confronting the very traits or emotions they are trying to avoid.
Differentiating Projection from Other Psychological Phenomena
While projection is a distinct psychological process, it shares similarities with other defense mechanisms and cognitive biases. Understanding these distinctions can help in accurately identifying and addressing projection.
Projection vs. Transference
How does projection differ from transference? While both involve attributing feelings to others, transference specifically refers to redirecting emotions from past relationships onto current ones, often in a therapeutic context. Projection, on the other hand, can occur in any situation and doesn’t necessarily involve past relationships.
Projection vs. Displacement
Displacement involves redirecting emotions or behaviors from one target to another, often safer or more socially acceptable one. Projection specifically involves attributing one’s own traits or emotions to others, rather than simply redirecting them.
The Impact of Projection on Relationships
Projection can significantly influence interpersonal dynamics, often leading to misunderstandings, conflicts, and emotional distance. In romantic relationships, persistent projection can erode trust and intimacy as partners misattribute their own insecurities or fears to each other.
How does projection affect communication in relationships? When individuals project, they may:
- Misinterpret their partner’s actions or words
- React defensively to perceived criticisms
- Struggle to empathize with their partner’s actual feelings
- Create self-fulfilling prophecies by acting on projected fears
Projective Identification in Relationships
Projective identification represents a more complex form of projection that often occurs in close relationships. In this process, the person being projected upon internalizes and begins to express the projected feelings or behaviors.
For example, if a partner projects their fear of abandonment, they might become overly clingy or suspicious. The other partner may then start to feel suffocated and withdraw, inadvertently confirming the original fear. This cycle can create a self-reinforcing pattern of projection and reaction.
Addressing Projection in Therapy
Therapy can be an effective way to identify and address patterns of projection. A skilled therapist can help individuals:
- Recognize instances of projection in their lives
- Explore the underlying emotions or experiences driving the projection
- Develop healthier coping mechanisms and communication skills
- Increase self-awareness and emotional regulation
What therapeutic approaches are effective for addressing projection? Various therapeutic modalities can be helpful, including:
- Psychodynamic therapy, which explores unconscious patterns and past experiences
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying and changing thought patterns
- Mindfulness-based therapies, which can increase awareness of one’s thoughts and emotions
- Family or couples therapy, which can address projection in relational contexts
The Role of Self-Reflection in Addressing Projection
While therapy can be invaluable, individuals can also work on recognizing and reducing projection through self-reflection. This process involves:
- Regularly examining one’s emotional reactions and assumptions
- Practicing mindfulness to increase awareness of thoughts and feelings
- Journaling to track patterns of projection and emotional triggers
- Seeking feedback from trusted friends or family members
By developing a habit of self-reflection, individuals can become more adept at recognizing when they might be projecting and take steps to address it.
Strategies for Dealing with Projection from Others
Encountering projection from others can be challenging and emotionally draining. However, there are strategies to navigate these situations effectively:
- Maintain emotional boundaries to avoid internalizing projected feelings
- Practice empathy while recognizing that the projection isn’t about you
- Communicate clearly and assertively about your own feelings and perspectives
- Seek support from trusted individuals or professionals
- Encourage open dialogue to address misunderstandings
How can you respond to someone who is projecting onto you? It’s important to approach the situation with compassion while also maintaining your own emotional well-being. You might say something like, “I understand you’re feeling [emotion], but I don’t think that’s coming from me. Can we talk about what might really be bothering you?”
The Importance of Self-Care When Dealing with Projection
Consistently being on the receiving end of projection can be emotionally taxing. Prioritizing self-care is crucial in these situations. This might involve:
- Setting clear boundaries in relationships
- Engaging in stress-reducing activities like exercise or meditation
- Seeking support from a therapist or support group
- Practicing self-compassion and positive self-talk
Remember that you’re not responsible for managing others’ projections, and it’s okay to prioritize your own emotional well-being.
The Role of Projection in Broader Social Contexts
Projection doesn’t only occur in individual relationships; it can also manifest on a larger scale in social and cultural contexts. Understanding this broader application of projection can provide insight into various social phenomena.
Projection in Group Dynamics
How does projection influence group behavior? In group settings, projection can lead to:
- Scapegoating, where a group projects its collective fears or shortcomings onto an individual or subgroup
- Stereotyping, where negative traits are projected onto entire demographic groups
- Political polarization, where opposing groups project their worst fears onto each other
- Organizational conflicts, where departments or teams project blame for failures onto each other
Recognizing these patterns can help in addressing systemic issues and promoting more constructive group dynamics.
Cultural Projection and Its Implications
On a cultural level, projection can influence societal attitudes and behaviors. This might manifest as:
- Cultural stereotypes and prejudices
- Xenophobia and fear of the “other”
- Moral panics and societal fears
- Idealization or demonization of other cultures
Understanding these cultural projections can contribute to more nuanced cross-cultural understanding and communication.
The Future of Projection Research in Psychology
As our understanding of the human mind evolves, so too does our comprehension of psychological projection. Current and future research directions in this field include:
- Neuroimaging studies to understand the brain mechanisms underlying projection
- Exploration of the relationship between projection and other cognitive biases
- Investigation of cultural differences in projection patterns
- Development of more effective therapeutic interventions for addressing projection
What potential breakthroughs might we see in projection research? Advances in neuroscience and cognitive psychology may provide deeper insights into the unconscious processes driving projection, potentially leading to more targeted and effective treatments.
The Intersection of Projection and Technology
As technology increasingly mediates our social interactions, new questions arise about how projection manifests in digital spaces. Areas of interest include:
- Projection in social media interactions and online communities
- The role of artificial intelligence in recognizing or potentially reinforcing projection patterns
- Virtual reality applications for studying and addressing projection
- The impact of increased digital communication on projection in face-to-face interactions
These emerging areas of research promise to shed new light on the age-old phenomenon of psychological projection, offering fresh perspectives on how we understand and navigate our internal and external worlds.
Projection | Psychology Today
Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff
Projection is the process of displacing one’s feelings onto a different person, animal, or object. The term is most commonly used to describe defensive projection—attributing one’s own unacceptable urges to another. For example, if someone continuously bullies and ridicules a peer about his insecurities, the bully might be projecting his own struggle with self-esteem onto the other person.
The concept emerged from Sigmund Freud’s work on defense mechanisms and was further refined by his daughter, Anna Freud, and other prominent figures in psychology.
Contents
What Is Projection?
Projection in Everyday Life
Projection in Therapy
What Is Projection?
Unconscious discomfort can lead people to attribute unacceptable feelings or impulses to someone else to avoid confronting them. Projection allows the difficult trait to be addressed without the individual fully recognizing it in themselves.
Who developed the concept of projection?
Freud first reported on projection in an 1895 letter, in which he described a patient who tried to avoid confronting her feelings of shame by imagining that her neighbors were gossiping about her instead. Psychologists Carl Jung and Marie-Louise von Franz later argued that projection is also used to protect against the fear of the unknown, sometimes to the projector’s detriment. Within their framework, people project archetypal ideas onto things they don’t understand as part of a natural response to the desire for a more predictable and clearly-patterned world.
More recent research has challenged Freud’s hypothesis that people project to defend their egos. Projecting a threatening trait onto others may be a byproduct of the mechanism that defends the ego, rather than a part of the defense itself. Trying to suppress a thought pushes it to the mental foreground, psychologists have argued, and turns it into a chronically accessible filter through which one views the world.
What’s an example of projection?
An example of projection would be the following: A married man who is attracted to a female coworker, but rather than admit this to himself, he might accuse her of flirting with him. Another would be a woman wrestling with the urge to steal, who comes to believe that her neighbors are trying to break into her home.
Why do people project?
People tend to project because they have a trait or desire that is too difficult to acknowledge. Rather than confronting it, they cast it away and onto someone else. This functions to preserve their self-esteem, making difficult emotions more tolerable. It’s easier to attack or witness wrongdoing in another person than confront that possibility in one’s own behavior. How a person acts toward the target of projection might reflect how they really feel about themselves.
Is projection conscious or unconscious?
Projection is thought to be an unconscious process that protects the ego from unacceptable thoughts and impulses.
Attributing those tendencies to others allows the person to place themselves above and beyond those urges, while still being able to observe them from afar. Although this occurs unconsciously, these patterns can be brought to conscious awareness, especially with the help of a therapist.
What is projective identification?
Projective identification occurs when the target of projection identifies with and expresses the feelings projected onto them. This represents a deeper stage of the distortions raised by projection, one that often occurs in relationships. For instance, a man could displace his own feelings of frustration towards a distant parent onto a romantic partner, who then withdraws emotionally after an argument.
Projection in Everyday Life
Projection can occur in a variety of contexts, from an isolated incident with a casual acquaintance to a regular pattern in a romantic relationship. But learning to recognize and respond to projection can help people understand and navigate social conflict.
How can you tell if you’re projecting?
When your fears or insecurities are provoked, it’s natural to occasionally begin projecting. If you think you might be projecting, the first step is to step away from the conflict. Time away will allow your defensiveness to fade so that you can think about the situation rationally. Then you can 1) Describe the conflict in objective terms 2) Describe the actions that you took and the assumptions you made and 3) Describe the actions the other person took and the assumptions they made in order. These questions can help you explore whether and why you may have been projecting.
How can you tell if someone is projecting on you?
If someone has an unusually strong reaction to something you say, or there doesn’t seem to be a reasonable explanation for their reaction, they might be projecting their insecurities onto you. Taking a step back, and determining that their response doesn’t align with your actions, may be a signal projection.
A harmful consequence of continual projection is when the trait becomes incorporated into one’s identity. For example, a father who never built a successful career might tell his son, “You won’t amount to anything” or, “Don’t even bother trying.” He is projecting his own insecurities onto his son, yet his son might internalize that message, believing that he will never be successful.
Although it’s difficult to do so, individuals who experience this can try to remember that the criques are about the other person, and to be confident in who they are outside of that relationship.
A common source of projection in romantic relationships emerges when unconscious feelings toward a parent are projected onto the person’s partner. If the partner then identifies with and expresses the feelings projected onto them, projective identification is at play.
Signs of projective identification in a relationship include having the same fight over and over again, feeling upset with your partner but not knowing why, and confusion about your reaction or your partner’s reaction to a situation.
Couples can overcome projective identification by recognizing it, slowing down in conflicts, checking to make sure that they understand each other correctly, and considering couples therapy if needed.
How do narcissists use projection?
Narcissistic people often resort to projection to protect their self-image. Complaining about how someone else is so “showy” or “always needs attention” is one example of how a narcissist might project. They may also blame others for things that have gone wrong, rather than taking responsibility themselves. As the narcissist projects more shame and criticism onto another person, that individual’s self-doubt often grows, leading to a self-reinforcing cycle.
How do you respond to projection?
Setting boundaries can help you respond to projection. Responding with clear statements such as “I disagree” or “I don’t see it that way” can deflect the projection and may prompt the person to reflect or take responsibility. It can also prevent you from internalizing unfair criticism or blame.
But if the person continues to project, and seems unable to move forward, it may be necessary to remove yourself from the conversation.
Projection in Therapy
Projection can reveal hidden insecurities or beliefs that are valuable to explore in therapy. It also relates to the phenomenon of transference, in which a patient transfers feelings he or she has toward another important figure in their life onto a therapist. While projection can occur in different contexts, transference is primarily understood through a therapeutic lens. (For more, see Transference.)
While psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapists are more likely than others to invoke projection as a behavior of note, therapists trained in all modalities are familiar with the construct. Some may discuss a person misattributing or misunderstanding their own biases, without labeling such behavior “projection.”
How does projection work in therapy?
Through their conversations, a therapist may observe that a patient seems to be projecting, either onto the therapist or toward other people in the patient’s life.
For example, a therapist might realize that a patient continuously posits that their partner is having an affair, with no evidence. The therapist might explore whether the patient is secure in the relationship or is perhaps the one struggling to remain faithful. Projection can be an opportunity to identify difficult emotions that need to be processed.
How do therapists respond to projection?
If a therapist suspects that a patient is projecting—either onto the therapist or onto other people in the patient’s life—they will likely explore the patient’s reaction. Understanding why the patient is reacting to the therapist with such a strong emotion, or misinterpreting a therapist’s statements, can help reveal underlying relationship challenges that should be discussed and resolved.
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Projection in Psychology: Definition, Defense Mechanism, Examples
What is projection?
Has someone ever told you to stop projecting your feelings onto them? While projecting is often reserved for the world of psychology, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the term used in arguments and heated discussions when people feel attacked.
But what does projection actually mean in this sense? According to Karen R. Koenig, M.Ed, LCSW, projection refers to unconsciously taking unwanted emotions or traits you don’t like about yourself and attributing them to someone else.
A common example is a cheating spouse who suspects their partner is being unfaithful. Instead of acknowledging their own infidelity, they transfer, or project, this behavior onto their partner.
Why do some people project? And is there anything that can help someone to stop projecting? Read on to find out.
Like a lot of aspects of human behavior, projection comes down to self-defense. Koenig notes that projecting something you don’t like about yourself onto someone else protects you from having to acknowledge parts of yourself you don’t like.
She adds that humans tend to feel more comfortable seeing negative qualities in others rather than in themselves.
Who does it?
“Projection does what all defense mechanisms are meant to do: keep discomfort about ourselves at bay and outside our awareness,” explains Koenig.
She says the people who are most prone to projecting are those who don’t know themselves very well, even if they think they do.
People who “feel inferior and have low self-esteem” can also fall into the habit of projecting their own feelings of not being good enough onto others, adds psychologist Michael Brustein, PsyD. He points to racism and homophobia as examples of this type of projection on a broader scale.
On the other hand, people who can accept their failures and weaknesses — and who are comfortable reflecting on the good, bad, and ugly within — tend not to project. “They have no need, as they can tolerate recognizing or experiencing the negatives about themselves,” Koenig adds.
Projection often looks different for each person. With that said, here are some examples from Koenig to help you get a better understanding of how projection might play out in different scenarios:
- If you’re out to dinner and someone keeps talking and talking and you interrupt, they may accuse you of not being a good listener and wanting attention.
- If you strongly advocate for an idea of yours at work, a co-worker might accuse you of always wanting your way, even though you tend to just go along with their ideas most of the time.
- Your boss insists you’re lying about the large number of hours you put into a project when they’re the one who’s cutting out of the office early and not meeting deadlines.
If you recognize yourself in any of these scenarios, there’s no need to beat yourself up about it. This can just lead to more projecting. Instead, try to focus on why you’re projecting. There are a few ways to go about this.
Do some soul searching
A good starting point, says Brustein, is to check in with how you truly feel about yourself, especially your weaknesses. What are they? Are there things you actively do to contribute to them? He recommends hashing out these questions in a journal.
Koenig agrees on the importance of self-reflection when it comes to projection. To her, self-reflection means “viewing yourself with detachment and curiosity, never judgment.
”
Look at your behavior and see if you tend to blame others for things you do or incorrectly assign negative qualities to others. If you do, take note of it and move on. Try not to dwell on it and judge yourself too harshly.
Ask someone who understands
It sounds intimidating, but Koenig recommends asking someone close to you if they notice you projecting. Make sure it’s someone you trust and feel comfortable talking to. It might be hard to bring up at first, but consider being honest with them. Explain you’re trying to better understand how you see yourself and others.
Just make sure you’re prepared to hear things you might not necessarily want to hear if you decide to do this. Remember, though, that this info can help you learn to stop projecting.
See a therapist
A good therapist can be one of the best tools for overcoming projection. They can help you identify and address reasons why you’re projecting and give you tools to help you stop.
If projecting has damaged a close relationship, a therapist can also help you rebuild that relationship or prevent it from happening in a future one.
Not sure where to start? Here are five therapy options for every budget.
It’s human nature to want to protect yourself from painful or negative feelings and experiences. But when this protection turns to projection, it may be time to take a look at why you’re doing it. Doing so can improve not only your self-esteem, but also your relationships with others, whether they be co-workers, a spouse, or close friends.
Projection. What is “Projection”? The concept and definition of the term “Projection” – Glossary
Glossary. Psychological dictionary.
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Projection (lat. projectio – I throw forward) is a term often used in psychology that serves to designate a psychological process, as a result of which a person mistakenly considers everything that happens inside as coming from outside.
In other words, a person can endow others (including objects of inanimate nature) with the qualities and characteristics that he himself has chosen for them inside himself, but he perceives these data as something he received from the external environment. Projection is primarily a defense mechanism. This property leaves a somewhat negative imprint: for example, when a person perceives his own unacceptable features as a projection of others, which relieves him of an internal sense of responsibility. Projection can also have negative consequences when there is a desire to correct the external object onto which something bad is projected, or to get rid of it altogether – in order to get rid of the feelings that it caused in this way. At the same time, the same external object may have nothing to do with what is projected onto it.
Projections play a big role at an early age, when there is a clear division into “I” and the world around. Pathological manifestations of projections are observed in a number of mental illnesses – paranoia, phobia, mania, hysteroid personality disorder.
However, this process also has a practical application: the projection mechanism is used in special tests aimed at revealing hidden motives. In addition, the projection underlies the animation (personification) of objects of the surrounding reality – thanks to projections, we often say: “a faithful dog”, “affectionate cat”, and so on. Such definitions indicate that we are projecting onto these objects our personal feelings about them.
Exploration> Popular terms Projection “You yourself wanted it!”: How do the projections poison our relationship , to you that your partner has changed, lost interest in you? Well, still, because he became gloomy and irritable. Oh yes, he said something about problems at work … The habit of attributing our thoughts and fears to another can prevent us from being happy. Media news2 new on site Today they read Psychologies invites SUBSCRIBE new issue SUMMER 2023 №74 More details . The opposite of introjection is projection. If introjection is the tendency to take responsibility for what is really part of the environment, then projection is the tendency to make the environment responsible for what comes from the person himself. An example of an extreme case of projection would be paranoia, clinically characterized by the presence of a well-organized delusional system in the patient. The paranoid usually turns out to be a highly aggressive person; unable to take responsibility for his own illusions, desires and feelings, the paranoid ascribes them to objects or people in his environment. His conviction that he is being persecuted is in fact a statement that he would like to be persecuted by others. But projection does not exist in such extreme forms; it is necessary to carefully distinguish between projection as a pathological process, and thinking through assumptions, which can be normal and healthy. In contrast, a sexually inhibited woman who complains about being hit on by everyone, or a cold, aloof, arrogant man who accuses people of being hostile to him are examples of neurotic projection. In these cases, people make assumptions based on their own fantasy, not realizing that these are only assumptions. Moreover, they are unaware of the origin of their own assumptions. Artistic creativity also requires some assumptions and projections. The neurotic uses the mechanism of projection not only in relation to the external world; he also uses it in relation to himself. He alienates from himself not only his own impulses, but also the parts of himself in which these impulses arise. He endows them with an objective, so to speak, existence, which can make them responsible for his difficulties and help him ignore the fact that they are parts of himself. Instead of an active attitude to the events of his own life, the projecting subject becomes a passive object, a victim of circumstances. When a chorister complains about his bladder causing him trouble, this is a perfect example of projection. Thus, in the projection, we shift the boundary between ourselves and the rest of the world a little “in our favor”, which gives us the opportunity to relieve ourselves of responsibility, denying that we own those aspects of the personality that we find it difficult to reconcile with, which seem unattractive or offensive to us . Also, projection is usually the result of our introjects causing us to feel alienated and self-contemptuous. Because our chorister has introjected the notion that good manners are more important than the satisfaction of pressing personal needs, since he has introjected the conviction that one should “bear it all smiling,” he is forced to project or even expel from himself those impulses that are contrary to his external activities. The projecting neurotic, like the introjector, is unable to distinguish between the facets of his own integral personality that really belong to him and that which is imposed on him from outside. He regards his introjects as himself, and he regards those parts of himself that he would like to get rid of as undigested and inedible introjects. Through projection, he hopes to free himself from imaginary “introjects” that are in reality not introjects at all, but aspects of himself. The introjecting personality, which is a battlefield between warring unassimilated ideas, gets a parallel in the form of a projecting personality, which makes the world the arena of the battle of its personal conflicts.
How can I get him to do that?” Psychologies VKontakte
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Projection – Psychologos
This value is completely neutral with respect to the pathological aspect of the projection and forms the basis for the use of projective techniques. Projection (from Frederick Perls’ Witness to Therapy)
Planning and anticipation, searching and maneuvering in chess and many other activities involve observing and making assumptions about the outside world. But these assumptions are understood as assumptions. When a chess player thinks several moves ahead, he makes a series of assumptions about his opponent’s mental processes, as if to say, “If I were him, I would do such-and-such.” But he realizes that he is making assumptions that will not necessarily be consistent with what guides his opponent’s behavior, and he knows that these are his own assumptions.
The writer often literally projects himself into his characters, becomes them while he writes about them. But, unlike the projecting neurotic, he does not lose ideas about himself. He knows where he himself ends and his heroes begin, even if in the process of creation itself he loses his sense of boundaries and becomes someone else.
Here the ugly “it” raises its head, and our hero is almost a victim of his own bladder. “It just happens to me; I have to endure it,” he says. We are witnessing the emergence of a small fragment of paranoia. Just as an introjector might be asked who is speaking and the answer is “they,” so the projector should be reminded, “It’s your own bladder, it’s you who needs to urinate.” – When a projector says “it” or “they”, he usually means “I”.
It is not he who feels the need to urinate; he’s a good boy, he wants to stay with the band and keep singing. Urination is demanded by this nasty, naughty bladder, which, as luck would have it, ended up in him, which he considers to be an “introject” – an alien element, forcibly introduced into him against his will.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/what-is-a-fixation-2795188_color-6b6fccdd74a64ad1bb660e352a0a21d9.gif)