Prerequisite for Part 4

Denial, Projection and Identification

Most of you have likely had some exposure to these three concepts, but for those of you who may not and happen to be following The Problem with Perception posts, this quick primer may be useful.

Denial is a term used in psychology referring to a largely unconscious defense mechanism employed to manage thoughts and events that are too painful or too frightening to handle consciously. Ostensibly, defense mechanisms such as denial protect our psychological well-being from trauma, anxiety, and conflict. Many of us are familiar with the concept of denial via the language of twelve-step programs. Denial is a key component of an addict’s ability to continue destructive behaviors even when confronted with the devastating consequences of those same behaviors. Psychologists typically refer to three general types of denial: simple denial in which we deny the reality of the traumatic event altogether, minimization in which we admit the reality of the trauma but deny the seriousness or the impact, transference in which we admit both the reality and seriousness of the trauma but deny responsibility. We utilize the last as the primary means by which we keep the root of our problems hidden and our attention focused solely on where it is not.

Another term borrowed from psychology, projection, is also a largely unconscious defense mechanism in which one’s undesirable characteristics, motives, or thoughts are attributed to other people or externals. An individual perceives in others the attributes denied in one’s self. The concept was developed initially by Freud, further refined by his daughter, and formed the basis of Jung’s concept of the “shadow.” Projection seemingly reduces pain and anxiety by attempting to give them away with no conscious awareness or responsibility. Think about the people at work who always seem to be complaining about the mistakes of others. Instead of dealing with the undesirability of their own mistakes, they unconsciously project their flaws onto others, seeing mistakes in everyone else. This example also elucidates a fundamental relationship between denial and projection. Those who project are unconsciously denying a part of themselves that they are unwilling to recognize. In an attempt to rid themselves of this undesirable part, they project it externally. The old adage “It takes one to know one” or the newer “You spot it you got it” describe this process succinctly. What we see within our mind determines what we think is outside our mind.

Identification is the opposite defense mechanism to projection. Identification is what’s left, the other side of the coin, perhaps the other edge of the sword. Identification is who I believe I am: “me.” Every second of every minute of every hour of every day, we are making judgments, decisions, and choices about who we are. If I’ve projected my undesirable characteristics, my guilt, my laziness, my anger, etc. onto the world, I’m often left to identify with their opposites in me. For example, you are the bad guy; I am the good guy. You are the lazy one; I am the hard worker. We identify with what we believe to be or want to be true about ourselves, and we project that which we find undesirable, painful, or fearful onto others. Now, note that sometimes what we want to be true about ourselves may appear to be undesirable to others, but the dynamic works the same. Identification, then, is a wish fulfilled of what I would have myself be. I split off from what I deny, and move toward what I wish to be.

Hope that will help. Part 4 will follow early next week.