Which defense mechanism involves attributing one's own thoughts, feelings, or impulses to someone else?

Which defense mechanism involves attributing one's own thoughts, feelings, or impulses to someone else?

• A. Projection
• B. Displacement
• C. Rationalization
• D. Repression

Answer: (A)

Projection is a defense mechanism where you attribute your own uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, or urges to someone else. It helps shield you from recognizing those feelings in yourself by seeing them in another person. For example, feeling irritated but insisting that a coworker is the one who’s irritable shows projection in action. Other mechanisms work differently: displacement shifts emotion to a safer target, rationalization offers excuses to justify the feeling or behavior, and repression pushes the feeling out of conscious awareness. Since this scenario describes turning your own thoughts or impulses outward onto someone else, projection best fits.

Projection is a defense mechanism where you attribute your own uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, or urges to someone else. It helps shield you from recognizing those feelings in yourself by seeing them in another person. For example, feeling irritated but insisting that a coworker is the one who’s irritable shows projection in action. Other mechanisms work differently: displacement shifts emotion to a safer target, rationalization offers excuses to justify the feeling or behavior, and repression pushes the feeling out of conscious awareness. Since this scenario describes turning your own thoughts or impulses outward onto someone else, projection best fits.