Understanding Psychological Projection
Psychological projection refers to the process of displacing negative qualities about oneself (feelings, emotions, actions, traits, etc.) onto a different individual, institution, or object.
According to the theory of psychological projection, internal feelings are externalized, which means that feelings are brought from the inner world and placed onto something in the external world.
Freud thought an individual might also experience psychological projection to reduce anxiety and avoid conflict if possible. He also speculated that projection might be one of many people’s defense mechanisms against the impact of a threatening experience (whether internal or external) by moving it from the conscious to the unconscious realm.
Freud also applied this concept to situations involving paranoia and phobias by conjecturing that once a phobia is projected onto something external, the threat might be more easily managed.
Projection in relationships
Psychological projection can cause problems in any relationship, but it may be especially common in intimate relationships. For this reason, couples therapy often includes helping partners learn to withdraw their projections. There are many examples of projection, but one may be someone projecting their own challenges with dependency onto their partner, whom they may then criticize for being needy or too dependent. This projection can provide a false defense mechanism for the individual’s own neediness and dependency on their partner and can potentially create problems within the relationship.
Authoritative projection
Another possible manifestation of projection is when it is placed upon an authority figure. An individual may experience internal difficulty as a result of external conflict with an authoritative figure. For example, some people project onto their bosses their own struggle to manage their workload, their tardiness, or their missed deadlines. Such an employee may project their own behavior onto their boss because they can’t cope with their feelings about their job. This can also deflect attention from the employee’s sub-par performance when the employee claims their boss exhibits the same behavior.
Projection in daily life
Projection can occur in everyday life through phenomena such as road rage, off-color jokes, and rudeness. Jokes, including those about racism, sexism, and homophobia, may have underlying roots. Exceptionally strong feelings that are difficult for an individual to process may result in forms of hatred toward others who are different.
For example, small jokes that target a particular group often invite a response for others to either agree or disagree about it. One of the potential concerns with these seemingly smaller projections is that they may create a culture of accepting intolerance, which may lead to more serious projections that result in the oppression of an entire targeted group. Some psychologists posit that individuals may project upon others what they feel uncomfortable about within themselves.
Projective identification
Another concept in psychoanalytic theory is projective identification. This refers to the unconscious projection of different parts of the self, including experiences, feelings, and functions, onto another person. An individual may experience projection by viewing another person in distorted ways. Furthermore, the individual may exert pressure on the other person so that they begin to experience and view themselves according to those unconscious expectations. This projection can be harmful to both the person projecting and the person being projected upon.
Three phases of projective identification
Researchers believe there are three phases of projective identification:
- Phase one may be so intense that the individual blurs the boundaries between themselves and their subject. The individual wishes subconsciously to get rid of their negative parts by placing them onto the subject. The individual creates a fantasy of the subject.
- Phase two begins when the individual interacts with the subject. The interaction is done in a way that exerts pressure on the recipient to feel and behave according to the fantasy of the projector. This occurs through different interactions between the two.
- Phase three occurs when the projection becomes intense enough or lasts long enough that the subject experiences themselves in ways that are similar to the fantasy.
Like projection, projective identification is also an unconscious process. Ideally, it can be handled in a healthy way in which the individual recognizes their projection and the subject can reject the fantasy.
In the case of therapy, the therapist will ideally be able to deal with the projection better than the individual, and the individual will use a new coping skill.
Exploring projection with a therapist
Projection is a powerful process that can occur in families, couples, and groups, as well as between a therapist and client. A therapist may be able to provide insight into ways in which you may be projecting. If you don’t feel that traditional in-office therapy is right for you, you might try online therapy, which numerous studies have demonstrated to be effective. With an online therapy service like BetterHelp, you can talk to a therapist from the comfort of your own home via audio or video chat. You can also contact your therapist in between sessions via in-app messaging, and they’ll get back to you as soon as they can.
Below are some reviews of BetterHelp counselors:
Counselor reviews
"Glenda Velez makes me feel as if she's really hearing me and helps me clarify my feelings more than I've done in "face to face" situations because I don't feel as if I need to "act" a certain way. I think she's doing an excellent job of enticing me out of my ego and shell. And I'm grateful for that."
"Chris was an excellent counselor who helped guide me through some pretty big life decisions, including but not limited to, making a serious career transition, salvaging friendships, and relationship matters. I highly recommend him as a counselor. He was open, friendly, professional, and relatable."
Takeaway
Projection is a powerful processes that occur in families, couples, and groups as well as between a patient and a therapist. Eventually, over time, the therapist helps the individual withdraw their projections and own more of them. An article published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology noted that biweekly sessions of transference-focused therapy resulted in clinical improvement among patients.
If you are struggling with psychologically informed projection or you are in acquaintance with someone who is, BetterHelp can help. If you are not certain about face-to-face therapy, online therapy may be a great option to start with.
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