What is Projection?

Psychological projection is the act of attributing one's own thoughts, feelings, and attitudes onto other people or objects. This defense mechanism is often used unconsciously, allowing a person to protect themselves from their own uncomfortable feelings by blaming them on someone else. Through this process, people will project their beliefs, values, and negative emotions onto others, and even see themselves in others. Sigmund Freud developed the theory of psychological projection, an Austrian psychologist commonly referred to as the "father of psychoanalysis." For this reason, psychological projection is sometimes called "Freudian projection." An example of psychological projection is someone who feels the compulsion to steal things and then projects those feelings onto others. The individual might begin to fear that their wallet is going to be stolen or that she is going to be overcharged.

Projection is not always as obvious or easily identifiable, however. People can relate to an instance of projection when they have to interact with someone they do not like. For example, Alan begins to resent his brother-in-law, Sam, for being so close to his wife.
Alan knows he must be courteous to Sam for his wife's sake. Over time, however, Alan notices that Sam does not appear to like him either.
Whenever there is a family gathering, Alan believes Sam is being rude to him, especially when Alan's wife is in the room. Alan tells his wife that he has tried as hard as he can, but the reason why he does not like Sam is that Sam does not like him. This is an example of Alan projecting his feelings of dislike and resentment onto Sam.

What causes projection?
As mentioned earlier, projection is used as a defense mechanism, and defense mechanisms are used to cope with feelings and emotions that we have trouble expressing or coming to terms with.
To return to the Alan and Sam example: Alan has a hard time coming to terms with the fact that he resents his brother-in-law. He may feel guilty about being jealous of the time Sam spends with his wife, or he may worry that his feelings will be noticed by other members of the family, who will then think badly of him. Alan then subconsciously projects his feelings onto Sam which gives him an excuse for disliking him. Instead of having to face these feelings of dislike and resentment on his own, he is able to project his feelings on another person.
Psychological projection is one of many defense mechanisms people engage in on a regular basis. Alan's example is a common one, and many people can relate to it. Another example of projection can be seen in the movie Gone Girl (2014), Nick Dunne projects his own guilt and shame onto Amy Dunne. After Nick begins an affair with another woman, he accuses Amy of being unfaithful, despite the fact that it is he who has been cheating. His use of psychological projection as a defense mechanism is a key theme throughout the movie.

What problems are caused by using projection as a defense mechanism?
Psychological projection can cause problems because it allows us to transfer our own unacknowledged or undesirable qualities, motives, and feelings onto other people. This can lead to misunderstanding and conflict between people, as well as distorted perceptions of reality. It can also lead to unhealthy relationships and avoidance of personal responsibility.

Other frequently used defense mechanisms are:

1. Denial: Denial is a defense mechanism used to avoid uncomfortable realities. It involves blocking out any facts or feelings that contradict what the person wants to believe. For example, someone in a bad relationship might deny that their partner is cheating even when presented with evidence.

2. Repression: Repression is the act of pushing painful or traumatic memories out of conscious awareness. This helps a person avoid the distress of dealing with these memories. For example, someone who experienced a traumatic event as a child might repress the memory and block it out of their conscious mind.

3. Displacement: Displacement is when a person redirects their emotions from an unacceptable target to a more acceptable one. For example, if someone is angry at their boss, they might take out their frustration on their family instead.

4. Projection: Projection is when a person projects their own thoughts, feelings, or motivations onto someone else. For example, if someone is feeling guilty about something, they might accuse someone else of feeling guilty instead.

5. Rationalization: Rationalization is when a person attempts to make an event or action more acceptable by providing false reasons or explanations for it. For example, someone might rationalize their bad behavior by saying they were just trying to show someone else who is boss.

6. Reaction formation: Reaction formation is when a person adopts an opposite attitude or behavior in order to conceal their true feelings. For example, someone who is jealous of a colleague's success might pretend to be happy for them instead.

7. Regression: Regression is when a person reverts to a more immature state in order to cope with a stressful situation. For example, an adult who is feeling overwhelmed might start behaving like a child, such as crying and throwing a tantrum.

8. Sublimation: Sublimation is when a person takes a negative emotion or impulse and channels it into a constructive or socially acceptable action. For example, someone who is feeling angry might take up a physical activity like boxing to help them channel their aggression in a productive way.

9. Intellectualization: Intellectualization is when a person focuses on the intellectual aspects of a situation in order to avoid the emotional aspects. For example, someone who is feeling overwhelmed by a difficult situation might try to analyze it from a logical perspective instead.

10. Dissociation: Dissociation is when a person mentally detaches from a situation in order to cope with it. For example, someone who is feeling overwhelmed might zone out and disconnect from their surroundings in order to cope with the stress.

The most common defense mechanism is denial. Denial is a way of avoiding uncomfortable realities by blocking out any facts or feelings that contradict what the person wants to believe. This helps a person avoid the distress of facing difficult truths. The least common defense mechanism is sublimation. Sublimation is when a person takes a negative emotion or impulse and channels it into a constructive or socially acceptable action. This mechanism is the least common because it requires a high level of self-awareness and emotional control to be able to recognize and properly manage one's negative emotions. It can be difficult to stop mental projection since it is an unconscious process. However, it is not impossible.

Here are some tips to help you stop mental projection:

• Identify and acknowledge your thoughts and feelings. When you are aware of your thoughts and feelings, you can separate them from those of other people.
  

• Challenge assumptions. People often make assumptions about others based on their own thoughts and feelings. Make sure you are not jumping to conclusions about the motivations of others.
  

• Practice mindfulness and self-compassion. Learning to stay in the present moment and be kind to yourself can help you take a step back and observe your thoughts and feelings objectively.
  

• Communicate with others. Instead of projecting your thoughts and feelings onto others, communicate them directly. This will help you to form more authentic connections with others.
  

• Seek professional help. If you find that you are struggling to stop mental projection, talking to a therapist or counselor can be a helpful way to gain insight and learn strategies for managing your thoughts and feelings.