projection
pruh-JEK-shun
/prəˈdʒɛk.ʃən/
The defense mechanism of attributing one's own unacceptable feelings, traits, or motives to another person.
In psychoanalysis, projection protects ego self-esteem by casting internal flaws outward onto others.
The story behind the word. Composed of Latin 'pro-' (forward) and 'jacere' (to throw). Literally meaning 'throwing forward', Sigmund Freud adapted it to describe how the mind 'throws' its own unacceptable feelings outward onto external subjects.
Word relationships
- externalization: Externalization is the general process of attributing internal mental experiences to external causes.
- displacement: Displacement shifts feelings from their real object to a safer substitute target, rather than attributing the feeling itself to someone else.
- internalization: Internalization involves absorbing external attitudes and values into one's own identity.
- introspection: Introspection involves looking inward at one's own mind rather than casting feelings outward.
Commonly confused with
- transference: Projection attributes one's own unwanted qualities to others, while transference redirects past feelings about key figures onto a current person.
Word family
- project (verb): To attribute internal feelings or traits outward onto others.
- projective (adjective): Relating to or causing psychological projection (e.g., projective tests).
Collocations
- psychological projection
- projection mechanism
- classic projection
- unconscious projection
Idioms & expressions
- the pot calling the kettle black
- seeing oneself in others
Example sentences
- "Accusing his coworker of jealousy was a clear case of projection, as he secretly coveted her promotion." Interpersonal dynamics context
- "The therapist helped the patient realize that her fear of rejection was merely a projection of her own self-criticism." Therapeutic context
Memory hook
Think of a movie PROJECTOR throwing internal images outward onto someone else's screen. Throwing your thoughts onto others.
When not to use
Do not confuse with statistical forecasting or image projection onto a screen, though they share the root.
Fun facts
- The famous Rorschach inkblot test is called a 'projective test' because patients project their unconscious thoughts onto ambiguous shapes.
Related words
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