Do you know what your true potential is? The mechanism of psychological projection and types of projection psychology can help you to realize your unlimited potential. Sitting in solitude, think about someone you admire the most.
Think about any one of their quality which makes them different from others. You like them for this one quality of theirs. Then think of the person whom you hate the most. We dislike people because of their quality.
Psychological Projection is a kind of Defence Mechanism which we all employ subconsciously to keep ourselves away from difficult feelings or emotions.
We make a personality based on what we want to show to others. Imposing our thinking on others is also a kind of projection. What we think is not what others think.
Many times we resort to such defense mechanism to distance ourselves from some people from others.
If you do not like someone and you have to face them too, then in such a situation we develop such personality inside ourselves which is not ours but, we have to show it.
Many times it happens that while sharing our opinion with others, when we find that they also think like us, then subconsciously start doing psychological projects.
To avoid adversity, we tend to cover ourselves with a situation that actually gives us only temporary relief. This type of defense mechanism only protects us from them, does not drive us out.
For healing, we should face it and not try to avoid it. Let us know in today’s post how it affects our life and what we have to do to get out of it.
The Basics of Psychological Projection
The origin of the theory of psychological projection is Sigmund Freud, who was an Austrian psychologist. He is called the father of psychoanalysis. They also introduce us different types of projection psychology and their effect in our life.
Usually you can feel it when you meet someone whose feeling is similar to yours. When this happens then you can deal with any kind of emotion.
You can clearly see an example of this. A husband who himself has an affair outside the house but, prevents his wife from doing so. A thief who steals himself but in normal days he himself is afraid that his things may be stolen.
Why Do We Project?
We know that this is a kind of Defense Mechanism and mostly we do this for Cope with Feelings and Emotions. Many times such situations come in front of us that we want to avoid that situation, but in spite of this we have to face it.
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In such a situation, we project a different personality which is not really ours. These types of projection psychology is actually one of several defense mechanisms that we use on a regular basis.
There are many common Psychological Projection that you can see here.
Denial outright denial of any such actual situation. Usually this is done by people who have to keep themselves away from this situation in some way. For an example, the death of someone you do not believe that this has happened.
Distortion trying to completely change the reality around you. For example, your boyfriend is trying to cheat you just because he has problem in living in commitment.
Passive Aggression Trying to control someone else’s situation. For example, boys living in a hostel block the common bathroom just because they cannot express their anger on others.
Repression trying to suppress feelings or emotions to avoid any kind of situation. For an example you get into an accident and you forget the incident of your car crash to save yourself from it. These are some kind of Psychological Projection you can see in daily life.
Sublimation expressing your feeling in some other way. For an example, it is considered wrong to have an affair at an older age, so you start loving young children.
Dissociation molding yourself into a personality that is completely different from you. It is temporary, but for your own benefit, you do it for your own benefit, no matter what the situation may be.
Defense mechanisms are not always unhealthy for us. If you take the help of Humor to remove stress, then it is a Positive Defense Mechanism. Many times we associate ourselves with such emotions to get out of the adverse situation.
Different Types of Psychological Projection
It is not necessary that projection should always be a negative mechanism. According to Freudian theory, it is not always undesirable. Apart from this, there are many projections which are positive and productive such as,
Complementary projection is a kind of projection where when we share something with others, we are surprised that others also feel the same emotion or have the same thinking.
When we accept that other people also think like us, then we start projecting our thoughts on others. It is a Positive Psychological projection but, we cannot always see it as a healthiest way.
This is a projection where we expect from others that as we are, everything else is. It is very important to understand this because only after understanding it, we can understand how to deal with negative emotions. Now we know how to deal with it and protect ourselves from it.
Common Examples of Psychological Projection
The trick to seeing through the guise of projection is to become aware of the sneaky habitual cycles we get into on a daily basis. Some of the most common examples of psychological projection that we all commit are expanded on below:
“He/she hates me!”
Whether at home, at work or in any other situation, we have all believed that our bosses, co-workers, mother in-laws, extended family members and other people we’ve come in contact with “hate” or “dislike” us for no reason.
While we are convinced that the words, intonations and brief looks given to us are reflections of hidden hatred, most of us fail to realize that believing someone “hates us” is often a result of projection.
If we have a strong dislike for someone in the first place it is common for us to protect ourselves against this feeling by projecting it into another.
“Oh my god, she’s so fat/ugly/slutty!”
How often have you bitched about another woman (or man) whose physical appearance was somehow displeasing to you? You might have felt an immense sense of distaste and dislike for this person.
When in fact this chagrin is a protection mechanism type of Psychological Projection veiling your own deeper body-image issues. Likely, you are deeply insecure about your own body, and thus unconsciously project this loathing onto others.
“Other people make me uncomfortable.”
Often the anxiety and tension we feel around others is a reflection of the way we perceive ourselves. When we are insecure or have low self-esteem, it is common to perceive the problem as being with other people and not ourselves.
This classic form of projection is common amongst those suffering from social anxiety.
“If I can do it, other people can as well.”
This is perhaps one of the most nauseating types of projection others make – which, while flattering and motivating in some ways, is completely unrealistic in others. How often have you heard commercials or advertisements with happy shiny people proclaiming,
“I lost 30 kilos in 3 weeks – you can too!” or, “I earned $1,245 dollars overnight – you can too!” This is a common example of projection that fails to take into account the fact that everyone has a different level of capability.
It is also common for us to personally commit this types of projection psychology as well. For example, with our children we might think, “If I was a good athlete, she will be as well” or with our co-workers we might think.
“If I could organize that project, he can as well.” Often this form of projection creates a lot of frustration and disappointment.
“That is gross/bad, get it away from me.”
What we react the most strongly to says the most about what we place the most importance in. For instance, if we can’t stand watching sex on TV this could very well be a reflection of a hidden sexual shame or insecurity we have in ourselves.
These types of projection psychology can affect our personal life experience.
Homophobia as well is also often a type of projection, especially amongst religious people (for instance, did you know the highest amount of gay porn is consumed by “Bible Belt” states in the US?).
“He/she is having an affair.”
The fear that your partner/spouse is having an affair or is untrustworthy is often a reflection of the way you feel about yourself.
All normal people functioning in relationships feel attracted to other people at one point or another, and sometimes this self-discovery is met with fear and shame which is then often projected onto the other partner.
How to Stop Projecting
Now you have understood that psychological projection is an attempt to hide ourselves in a way but, many times we fail in trying to hide ourselves.
When it is too late, we realize that in reality we are still stuck in the same situation from which we try to keep ourselves out. If you also want to know that if you are also stuck in such a situation then you are not there.
You can start it with Examine the Negative Relationships. Whom do you find with you in your family and work place and whom you do not? Have you felt that you feel something different from yourself?
Talking to ourselves or talking to someone special helps us to understand it in a better way.
Once you understand that you are feeling yourself in some types of projection psychology, it becomes easier for you to understand such future interactions in the times to come.
After understanding this kind of Psychological Projection, now it is necessary to face this kind of emotion from the front and not hide from them or take the help of any types of projection psychology.
It is important that we identify where we are using the defense mechanism and how we can change it in a positive manner.
How do you deal with such emotion?
It is common with everyone to experience emotions like anger, jealousy, hurt. We go through such emotions, but have you thought that such emotions are not bothering you more than necessary.
If most of your energy goes out in dealing with this kind of emotion, then there is a need to be careful. We should choose some healthy option to get out of such difficult emotion.
Psychological Projection can help us get out of difficult emotions. If it works like a healthy option for you, then of course you can use it.
Everyone has the right to defend, but if because of this you only get temporary relief, then it is not right either. It is better that you face your emotion instead of avoiding it.
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How to heal from Psychological Projection final word
Once you start to understand that you are doing Psychological Projection on others, then you have moved towards healing yourself. Understanding types of projection psychology and what problem you are facing and being aware of it takes you closer to success.
Unless we are aware of what is happening to ourselves, then any kind of healing will not work for us.
Healing process works for us when we ourselves accept all of them. It is not always right to choose any option to avoid adverse situations.
Sometimes to avoid the adverse situation, one should try to face them and not choose any defense mechanism to avoid it. If something wrong happens to you then you should understand it and get out of it and not cover yourself with a cover to avoid it.
