The Psychology of Projection (thoughts, passive, parent, issues)
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According to Sigmund Freud, projection is a psychological defense mechanism whereby one "projects" one's own undesirable thoughts, motivations, desires, and feelings onto someone else. It is a common process that every person uses to some degree.[3]
To understand the process, consider a person in a couple who has thoughts of infidelity. Instead of dealing with these undesirable thoughts consciously, he or she subconsciously projects these feelings onto the other person, and begins to think that the other has thoughts of infidelity and may be having an affair. In this sense, projection is related to denial, arguably the only defense mechanism that is more primitive than projection. Projection, like all defense mechanisms provide a function whereby truth about a part of themselves that may otherwise be unacceptable is shielded.
Compartmentalization, splitting and projection are ways that the ego continues to pretend that it is completely in control at all times, when in reality human experience is one of shifting beingness, instinctual or territorial reactiveness and emotional motives, for which the "I" is not always complicit. Further, common in deep trauma, individuals will be unable to access truthful memories, intentions and experiences, even about their own nature, wherein projection is just one tool [4].
While everybody uses it to “some” degree, some use more than their fair share. Obviously forums are fertile breeding grounds, but let's put them aside and concentrate on other personal experiences you might wanna share.
yeah - that is my crazy ex hubby to a tee - he's mr manipulative - but when he has to act like an adult he says everyone is trying to control him!!!
Oh, for instance, all these ads (almost always men's ads) stating "no drama, please." I'm willing to bet they're the ones who have stirred the drama in the past. I've also noticed people who claim repeatedly to want peace are often passive-aggressive and their "peace" can be achieved (if possible at all) only by driving the other person up the wall.
I tend to overcompensate for my faults and past. If I my parents did not make it to an event of mine growing up, I make sure I got to all of my childrens activities and I will be the team mom, room mother, president of the parents board, etc.
Sometimes if I am in a terrible sour mood and am on CD, I will gravitate towards threads that can be a bit caustic for my state of mind. I will seek out the most ruthless topics in politics and cut loose, feel better and come back home to relationships True story!
I can also tend to hyperfocus on other issues if my life is really crazy. I will work endless hours, helo a friend who needs 3 hours on the phone every day, etc.
My projections vary...but now you all know what to expect
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