{"id":13936,"date":"2012-08-31T14:50:03","date_gmt":"2012-08-31T21:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?page_id=13936"},"modified":"2016-02-16T12:22:56","modified_gmt":"2016-02-16T20:22:56","slug":"projection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/projection\/","title":{"rendered":"Projection"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/strong><\/span>Projection<\/strong> is a psychological defense mechanism<\/a> in which individuals\u00a0attribute characteristics they find unacceptable in themselves to another person. For example, a husband who has a hostile nature might attribute this hostility to his wife and say\u00a0she has an anger management<\/a> problem.<\/p>\n

In some cases projection can result in false accusations. For example, someone\u00a0with adulterous feelings might accuse their\u00a0partner\u00a0of infidelity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Types of Projection<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Like other defense mechanisms, projection is typically unconscious and can distort, transform, or somehow affect reality. A classic example of the\u00a0defense mechanism is when an individual says “She hates me” instead of expressing what is actually felt, which is\u00a0“I hate her.”<\/p>\n

There are three generally accepted types of projection:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Neurotic projection<\/strong>\u00a0is the most common variety of projection and most clearly meets the definition of defense mechanism. In this type\u00a0of projection, people may\u00a0attribute feelings, motives, or attitudes they find unacceptable in themselves to someone else.
    \n\t

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  2. Complementary projection<\/strong>\u00a0occurs when individuals assume\u00a0others feel the same way they do. For example, a person with a particular political persuasion might take it for granted that friends and family members share those beliefs.<\/li>\n
  3. Complimentary projection <\/strong>is\u00a0the assumption other people can do the same things as well as oneself. For example, an accomplished pianist might take it for granted that other piano students can play the piano equally well.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What Is the Purpose of Projection?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Sigmund Freud<\/a>\u00a0believed\u00a0projection to be a defense mechanism often used as a\u00a0way to avoid\u00a0uncomfortable repressed<\/a> feelings. Feelings that are projected may be controlling<\/a>, jealous<\/a>, angry<\/a>, or sexual in nature. These are not the only types of feelings and emotions projected, but projection most often occurs when individuals cannot accept their own impulses or feelings.<\/p>\n

    In modern psychology, the feelings do not necessarily have to be repressed to constitute projection. Projection can be said to provide\u00a0a level of\u00a0protection against feelings a person\u00a0does not wish to deal with. Engaging in either\u00a0complimentary and complementary projection\u00a0can allow\u00a0people to feel more like others or relate to them easily.<\/p>\n

    It is fairly common for people to engage in projection from time to time, and many people who project their feelings on occasion do not do so as a result of any underlying issue. In some cases projection can contribute to relationship<\/a> challenges. Projection may also\u00a0be a symptom of other mental health concerns.<\/p>\n

    Projection and Mental Health Concerns<\/h2>\n

    Projection, one main mechanism of paranoia<\/a>, is also\u00a0frequently\u00a0a symptom of narcissistic<\/a> and borderline<\/a> personalities. A person with narcissistic traits who does not respect their partner\u00a0may say to the partner, “You don’t respect me or see my true worth.” Some individuals with borderline personality may be afraid of losing the people they love and project this fear by frequently accusing\u00a0friends or partners\u00a0of planning to leave. However, individuals who project their feelings in this way do not necessarily have either of these conditions.<\/p>\n

    A person in therapy may be able to address these projections with the help of a qualified mental health professional<\/a>. When a person can explore the reasons behind any projected feelings, it may be possible to prevent or reduce occurrences of this behavior in the future.<\/p>\n

    References:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. American Psychological Association. APA Concise Dictionary of Psychology<\/em>. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2009. Print.<\/li>\n
    2. Corsini, R. J., & Wedding, D. (Eds.). (2007). Current Psychotherapies (Eighth ed.). Brooks Cole.<\/li>\n
    3. Perry, J. C., Presniak, M. D., & Olson, T. R. (2013). Defense Mechanisms in Schizotypal, Borderline, Antisocial, and Narcissistic Personality Disorders. Psychiatry, 76(1), 32-52.<\/li>\n
    4. Projection. (n.d.). Changing Minds<\/em>. Retrieved from http:\/\/changingminds.org\/explanations\/behaviors\/coping\/projection.htm<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Projection is a psychological defense mechanism in which individuals\u00a0attribute characteristics they find unacceptable in themselves to another person. For example, a husband who has a hostile nature might attribute this hostility to his wife and say\u00a0she has an anger management problem. In some cases projection can result in false accusations. For example, someone\u00a0with adulterous feelings […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2474,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"psychpedia.php","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13936","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13936","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2474"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13936"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13936\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13936"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}