Projection

Synonyms

Identification; Projective identification

Definition

Projection is a defense by which internal events such as feelings, motivations or thoughts are attributed to another person or object. The effect of this process is to prevent the individual from experiencing uncomfortable psychological states as originating within the self. Once projected onto another, these feelings or experiences can be dealt with as an external rather than internal threat or tension. In psychological testing, projection is the process by which test-takers inject personal meaning or feelings into responses given to test items.

Description

Projection was first described by Freud who used the term in various and sometimes contradictory ways. In the scientific terms of the day, projection had to do with establishing a correspondence between two objects. In psychological terms, this generally meant a correspondence between an internal experience and an external person or object. Often the experience that was...