Projection: Not I, You!

A man attributes his punching another due to the other's "combativeness and inappropriateness" based on his account. A wife accuses her husband of infidelity when she herself is having an online affair with a foreigner. A father says his son is very volatile when he himself is prone to fits of rage like a monster.

When a person makes false accusations about another person that have no basis in reality, it's known as psychological "projection."  It happens a lot, especially when one attempts to conceal his or her own feelings, impulses, or behaviors. Very often, the accusations of one "projecting" is self-descriptive. It is uncanny how often one will be guilty of the very things he or she accuses another person of doing.

People are usually unaware that they are "projecting." Psychologists say that people resort to "projection" as their chosen "unconscious" way to defend themselves from facing their own unpleasant or destructive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. "Projection" is, therefore, not only self-descriptive; it is self-deceptive.

"Projection" is a form of corruption of reality. Because of its internal defensive mechanism, it can be difficult or futile to confront. Yet there is a price to pay in avoiding the disturbing truths that "projection" is corrupting inside a person. A "projecting" person needs to choose to heal.