Psychological projection, what does it mean?

Psychological projection is a phenomenon where individuals attribute their own feelings, thoughts, or characteristics to others, often without conscious awareness. It is a defence mechanism that helps people cope with difficult emotions or feelings by displacing them onto someone else.

Projection can occur in various forms, such as:
1. Defensive projection: This is a common form of projection where individuals attribute their own negative traits or unwanted emotions onto others, usually without reason.
2. Empathy: In psychoanalytic thought, projection forms the basis of empathy by projecting personal experiences to understand someone else's feelings.
3. Malignant forms: In its more destructive forms, projection can be a defence mechanism in which the ego defends itself against disowned and highly negative parts of the self.
4. Transference: This is a form of projection where a person's feelings or impulses towards one person are transferred to another, often in the context of therapy or relationships.
5. Projective identification: This is a related defence mechanism where the person so that the self maintains a connection with what is projected, in contrast to the total repudiation of projection proper.

Projection can be a way for individuals to protect themselves from uncomfortable emotions or feelings, but it can also lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, and negative consequences in relationships and social interactions.

‍