If you see your own unwanted thoughts and undesirable impulses in other people, you are using the defense mechanism called

If you see your own unwanted thoughts and undesirable impulses in other people, you are using the defense mechanism called

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

Answer: (A)

Projection is a defense mechanism in which you attribute your own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses to someone else. When you notice your own unwanted thoughts showing up in other people, you’re using projection because you’re essentially seeing in others what you don’t want to acknowledge in yourself. For example, if you secretly feel aggressive urges but insist that a coworker is aggressively hostile, you’re projecting those impulses onto them. This helps protect you from facing uncomfortable parts of yourself. Repression keeps those thoughts out of conscious awareness, without labeling them as coming from others. Denial simply refuses to accept that the thoughts exist. Rationalization offers excuses for your own motives rather than transferring them to others.

Projection is a defense mechanism in which you attribute your own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses to someone else. When you notice your own unwanted thoughts showing up in other people, you’re using projection because you’re essentially seeing in others what you don’t want to acknowledge in yourself. For example, if you secretly feel aggressive urges but insist that a coworker is aggressively hostile, you’re projecting those impulses onto them. This helps protect you from facing uncomfortable parts of yourself.

Repression keeps those thoughts out of conscious awareness, without labeling them as coming from others. Denial simply refuses to accept that the thoughts exist. Rationalization offers excuses for your own motives rather than transferring them to others.