How can one protect oneself against projective identification? I've tried to find resources online, but to no avail. While there is plenty on projection, identification, projective identification, introjection and the other defense mechanisms, I couldn't find any resources on what to do when a person projects into another person something and expects that that person identify with it.
The Dark Thesis There is no protection from projective identification. How could there be? The human mind is a hall of mirrors. The best insight into all of this can be gained through an understanding of mimetic theory. Monkey see, monkey do. There is no objective reality to the world that our brains can identify. How could evolution produce an objective brain? We can only make guesses, based on whatever input we get. We must see ourselves as a reflection projected from others onto or into us. The reflection is never "accurate". That is why humans just make sh!t up. Why are we surprised by all of this? We don't even understand our own personal impulses and motivations. How could we possibly understand another's? We are not really individuals in the sense that the term is commonly used. We are group-thinking animals that share a mass delusion of free will and individuality. Welcome to the "Dark Thesis". Check out "Straw Dogs" by John Grey. BTW, Great OP topic wynn. ---FutilitistPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Not Necessarily Not necessarily. But I think we should return to the OP topic. This is not my thread. ---FutilitistPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Projective Identification Projective Identification. And protection from it. ---FutilitistPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Argument from incredulity. Are you going to be spamming this into every thread you post to now? No wonder you have such trouble with science. Science requires the presupposition that an objective reality exists and that we can actually contact it. Like mimetic theory? Not everyone is as clueless as to their own motives as you may be. This seems to be another argument from incredulity/ignorance. If you cannot conceive of it then it must not exist. Wynn, Futilitist seems to supply a good example of projective identification. An example of projective identification is that of the paranoid schizophrenic who develops the delusion that he is being persecuted by the police; fearing the police, he begins to act furtively and anxiously around police officers, thereby raising the suspicions of police officers, who then begin to look for some grounds on which to arrest him. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projective_identification#In_action While he may not intend to come across as troublesome, his paranoia about being seen as such does seem to have a negative impact on his posts. He gets defensive and accusative at the drop of a hat where detailing evidence for his arguments (if there is any) would serve him better. Projective identification may not be a bad thing. As in the above example, it is usually only detrimental to the one doing the projecting. Those identifying with the projection are simply reacting to behavior they know by experience to be suspect or fit an expected pattern. Perhaps practices such as those in Buddhism could afford you the detachment to avoid this, but this sort of detachment might also erode your ability to anticipate behavior.
Let's get that Futilitist guy! So, in your example, you seem to be identifying yourself as some sort of police officer or protector, and me as some sort of paranoid schizophrenic who might be a criminal. Perhaps you should consider taking the California F-scale. You might be a good example of an authoritarian personality. This seems more than a little self contradictory. You repeatedly express obvious hostility toward me and just identified me as good example of a projective identifier, if that is the right term. Now you are saying here that I am causing no harm to anyone here. Thus, no need to attack me. The thread topic is "Protection against projective identification - resources?", not, "Let's get that Futilitist guy!". Or is it? ---FutilitistPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
on the other hand, science does not guarantee that what looks like the truth is actually the truth you may be fairly certain that you approach a high level of truth value, but how close to the objective truth is harder to establish
It was not meant as a directly analogous example. Try not to be so literal minded. No, you are the one projecting, and those who respond to you, myself included, are the one making the projective identification. Yes, this is really only detrimental to yourself, but that does not make your behavior any less irritating to others. The only detriment to you is directly due to that irritation. Quit projecting and you may find you no longer feel attacked. Or just overcome your victim mentality. Thanks for continuing to display the paranoia that illustrates my point. Completely useless sentiment in science.
How to protect yourself would depend on who is doing the projective identification. I suspect most cases of this involve married people and depending a lot of variables, each case is a very different can of worms. How long it takes to deal with it also depend on a lot of individual variables. But does it happen on science forums?Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Yes Yes. I believe a link was provided in the OP. Read that to understand what "Projective Identification" is. ---FutilitistPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Hello KilljoyKlown. I'm glad you could join us. Please stick around. ---FutilitistPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!