Projection as Defense Mechanism & How to Work with It

 ''Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual's conscious life, the blacker and denser it is. At all counts, it forms an unconscious snag, thwarting our most well-meant intentions.''

-Carl Jung

Projection is the psychological process in which a person "schmears" -- yes, that is the technical term ;-) -- their unconscious, repressed, denied aspects of self onto someone else. Even though projections are not accurate, there is usually some aspect of the person who is being projected upon which triggers the projection. Projection is an important psychological defense mechanism that allows us to protect ourselves from feelings too difficult to process or admit. As Carl Jung said, “everyone carries a shadow,” and this shadow work can help us reclaim those denied aspects of ourself and discover wholeness. Read on to learn more about projection and how you can work with it.

What is Projection?

Projection is a psychological defense mechanism in which we project our own personal traits, thoughts, feelings, or behaviors onto someone else. It's like blaming others for things that we're doing ourselves without realizing it. We do this because it gives us an easy out from having to take responsibility for our actions or our feelings. For example, if you're feeling insecure about yourself but instead of admitting it you lash out at your partner and accuse them of being too critical or judgmental; this would be an example of projection.

Why Do We Use Projection?

Projecting helps us keep our negative emotions at bay by placing them outside of ourselves so they don't have to be dealt with internally. Our ego does this to protect itself from pain or discomfort--it's easier to point the finger outward than admit that something inside ourselves needs attention or healing. So when we feel insecure or vulnerable we use projection as a way to cope with these uncomfortable emotions without really addressing them head-on.

The Shadow Work Connection

Carl Jung connected the concept of shadow work and projection--he believed that everyone had an unconscious part of themselves (the "shadow") filled with all the things they had denied or repressed over time due to societal pressures or other external factors. He advocated doing shadow work in order to reclaim those denied aspects and rediscover wholeness within oneself. He also stated that when we do not integrate these shadows into our conscious awareness they will often come out through projection onto others.

Photo credit: Ellen Gin @Unsplash 

How To Work With Projections?

To start working with projections, first identify what triggered the reaction in you—what part of yourself did you see reflected back in another? Then sit with that feeling for a few moments and really explore it—why did it trigger such a strong reaction? Once you've identified this underlying emotion then try to confront it directly—acknowledge its presence and give yourself permission to feel whatever comes up without judgment or criticism. Finally, practice forgiveness both for yourself and for whoever may have triggered your reaction in the first place—remember that everyone is just trying their best and sometimes we make mistakes along the way!

Working through projections can be difficult but ultimately rewarding--by facing our fears head-on we can gain greater insight into ourselves while also releasing any pent-up negativity or hurt feelings we may have been harboring underneath the surface all along. Remember: “every projection has a peg”—so take some time today to explore what might be triggering your reactions and start reclaiming those denied aspects within yourself!

Photo credit: Adi Goldstein @Unsplash