Projection. How to see your log in someone else's eye.

[Brother]

All people act on the basis of an assessment of the situation and their condition. That is, the action is half determined by the environment. By what a person sees in front of him.

If a person sees that they are shouting at him, he will act in accordance with this: shout in response, close himself, run away, beat, speak with emphasis calmly, try to calm down, obey and nod - it tastes.

However, one must remember that the perception of the world is subjective. We never know objectively what is happening in the world. We see through the prism of our experience. So a child sees a green unusual thing, an adult woman sees a cactus, her husband sees not just a cactus, but Ferocactus pilosus, and a camel sees food.

It is all the more difficult to determine what is "on the mind" of another person. His feelings, reactions. Sometimes he talks about it himself. Often - he does not hide. Sometimes we guess about all this from non-verbal manifestations. But all these are indirect signs. He can lie, he can depict, we can be mistaken in the interpretation of non-verbal signals.

Man does not tolerate uncertainty and uncertainty. If an information vacuum is formed in the field of his perception, he seeks to fill it. Someone climbs forward and investigates, someone invents what could be there, someone extrapolates their past experience, and someone projects it.

What are projections?

Projection is a defense mechanism in which subjective content is assigned to an external object.

Example: Efrosinya is on the subway. Everyone looks askance at her and she just feels like everyone condemns her for cheap clothes. She hates them all because they are the most expensive clothes she can afford and she looks pretty neat. And in general, what is it !? That aunt over there looks even worse and is dressed even cheaper, and she also has the audacity to look condemningly!

After a conversation with a psychologist, it may turn out that Efrosinya herself estimates her clothes as cheap. She would very much like to dress more expensively. This is important to her. She is unhappy with her clothes, but it is very unpleasant for her to worry about this shame. And just then, a defensive reaction turns on - it projects accusations and an assessment of its own appearance outward. So, first of all, she gets the opportunity to argue with them and give counterarguments: "What is it?" Secondly, she disclaims responsibility for her own assessment of herself, which allows her not to admit the facts. If everyone considers her "cheap", and she is angry about it, then it turns out that it seems like she is not cheap at all.

Again. Projection is when a person transfers his own feelings, thoughts, emotions, intentions, experience to other people.

Everyone is familiar with the projector. The content of the projector is inside, but we can see the image where the projector is directed.

This is how the projection mechanism works. Wherever a person looks, he sees his own content. Returning to the beginning of the article, you can understand why projections interfere with acting adequately to the situation. A person projecting his experiences onto others will not react to those around him, he will not see them, but to his own content. Which, of course, will not make it easier for him to interact and will not add charm.

Projections in life

By learning to understand projections in life, a person gets interesting angles of view. He is less worried about the assessments of others. At the same time, contact with these others is improved. Partly because a person himself reduces the number of his projections, learning to recognize them, partly because he learns to see the content of other people's projections.

The behavior of others becomes for him more voluminous, embossed. He gets the opportunity to make more guesses about others and better understand them. For example, having suspected the projection of catharsis in someone from the environment, one can make the assumption that what is projected is inherent, but rejected by the person himself. Of course, this is not a 100% guarantee, but nevertheless, this is information that you can try to take into account when interacting with a person.

Projection provides a lot of material for a good study of awareness and acceptance of some of its parts. A person who has managed to define a projection in himself and has some skills will be able to benefit from this.

Projections are often one of the mechanisms that support self-doubt, fear of evaluation, and low self-esteem.

A large variety of projections are distinguished. The essence of all of them is the same - bringing something internal to the outside and perceiving it as external. But there are certain patterns of how you can do this. And these templates are separated into types. I will consider the most, in my opinion, frequent and spectacular.

What projections are there?

Catharsis projection

This is the brightest type of projection. “I don't like in others what I don't like in myself” - this proverb is about the projection of catharsis.

Catharsis is a process of release, relief. It is directed from the inside out.

The projection of catharsis is when "It is difficult for me to accept something in myself, but it requires my attention and therefore appears in the environment."

For example, I find it difficult to admit my laziness, so I am sure that everyone around me is lazy.

Mirror projection

Also a common type of projection. This is when I judge by myself and based on my personal past experience. I look at my past and think like "If it was like that this time, it will be the same this time," although it may not be so. Also, projections are classified as mirrored, the content of which a person would like to possess. Let's say he would like to be more honest and fantasizes about the infinite honesty of others.

Of those qualities and parts of oneself are accepted by a person are subjected to mirror projection. Otherwise, the person realizes their lack.

"I wear glasses and consider myself smart. I see glasses on you, so you are smart too."

"I know that I am always drawn to the left. Therefore, you are always drawn to the left. And if you disagree with me, then you just play."

"You master everything easily, it is easy for you to speak."

Additional projection

This is a very elegant, in my opinion, type of projection, which amuses me personally.

This is when "I see in the environment that will make my behavior adequate."

"You want to intimidate me" - says the man who is afraid. Although no one intimidates him and did not even intend to, it is just that initially the fear is already there.

"You are flirting with me and you want to seduce me, libertine." Although this may not be the case at all, it is primarily arousal and sexual interest, which are rejected and disguised as an adequate response to "seduction".

Other types of projections

Many other types of projections are distinguished depending on the paradigm or meticulousness. For example, a positive projection (this is a cross between a mirror and catharsis. When I project those qualities that I assess as positive, but I cannot assign to myself). But all these are already special cases.

Experiment to detect projections

You will need your partner Vasily. Everyone has Vasily, I think, so if you get bored at a meeting with him (in general, a rather boring type), you can try to conduct an experiment on projection.

In addition to Vasily, you will need two pieces of paper and two pens or pencils. Each one has a set.

Conditions: Sit opposite each other in a relaxed atmosphere. Place a pen and paper in front of you. Agree who leads first. Remember the rule - you can't talk about anything. In general, forget that you can speak. Throughout the experiment, both participants just silently look at each other. Let's say the host is you.

As a presenter, you think hard about something for 2-3 minutes. It could be anything. You can try to instill something in Vasily or convey a feeling to him. You can try to blow his head off with your mind. At the same time, you are forbidden to somehow actively not verbalize. Do not make a stone face, but do not try to make Vasily understand you. Just broadcast.

Vasily's task is to observe you and catch his feelings and feelings. They will be quite thin, so you have to try. He should also try to catch what you are thinking and what you are broadcasting to him. Vasily records all his guesses and feelings on paper. Maintain eye contact whenever possible.

After 2-3 minutes, the roles change. Now it's your turn to read minds.

At the end of the time, share with each other how you felt and felt.

The discrepancies will almost certainly be dramatic. And pay attention - what you "considered" from Vasily's head is actually your own thoughts and feelings. Now you know how projection works.

How do you know the projection?

She is irrational. You may know that a person is completely disgusting, although you have never communicated with him. You will not be able to give clear arguments.

The projection is very fond of the lack of information. Communication over the Internet facilitates projection, as does communication on the phone.

Usually the projection is negative. That is, you tend to experience discomfort when communicating with the person you are projecting onto. But there is also a positive one, when you find it difficult to accept your own positive qualities. There is no need to explain why this case is less common.

The role of projections in therapy

In therapy, projections are often nurtured by the therapist himself in order to gain simple and clear access to the client's unconscious. After all, the content of the projection is always not realized and in one way or another is rejected. But at the same time, for sure, it is part of the personality of the client himself. So by provoking a projection, you can get the data to work easily and quickly.

There are many techniques that stimulate projection. This is the whole arsenal of art therapy methods, all sorts of drawings, sculpture, photography, choice of cards, associative cards, spectrocards and the like. Sand, fairy tale therapy is based on projection. Directional meditation is also a variant of directed projection.

Projections can be seen especially clearly in therapeutic groups. Participants begin to project onto each other and onto the therapist. This is almost inevitable. The study of these projections can be useful for all participants in the process.