Projection or Defensive Projection

Projection is a defense mechanism for unconsciously attributing our own unacceptable feelings, thoughts, or behaviors onto another person/group, animal, or object. Though common, it can hurt relationships. By “projecting” to an external target, we can avoid acknowledging or confronting our own internal conflicts or addressing a difficult trait — without fully recognizing it in ourselves. If Tom bullies Bob about Bob’s insecurities, Tom might be projecting his own low self-esteem onto Bob. Sigmund Freud’s pioneering work on defense mechanisms gave rise to this concept, later refined by Anna Freud and others. For people with narcissism, projection can be a key survival strategy. They shift responsibility or shame for something they’ve done onto someone else. And there are certain personalities that may be easier to project onto than others. Also see Narcissistic Projection, Mirroring, and Introjection