ASWB LCSW Social Work Clinical Practice Exam

Which mechanism is characterized by projecting one’s feelings onto another individual?

1. Displacement

2. Projection

3. Projective identification

4. Repression

The correct answer is: Projective identification

The mechanism described in the question involves projecting one's feelings onto another individual, which aligns with the concept of projective identification. This psychological process not only involves projecting one's own feelings or unacceptable traits onto another person but also includes an interactive element where the projector influences the other person to take on these projected feelings or behaviors. In contrast, projection as a stand-alone defense mechanism refers primarily to the unconscious transfer of one's own undesirable thoughts or feelings onto someone else, without the added component of influencing the other person to embody these projections. Displacement involves redirecting emotions from a threatening target to a safer one, while repression is about unconsciously blocking out unpleasant thoughts or feelings from awareness. Understanding these nuances is crucial for differentiating between these defense mechanisms and grasping how projective identification operates in therapeutic or interpersonal contexts.