Projection and projective identification are related psychological concepts, but they refer to different defense mechanisms used by individuals to cope with emotional conflicts and maintain a sense of self.
Projection: Projection is a defense mechanism where a person attributes their own unconscious or undesirable thoughts, feelings, or impulses onto another person or object. In other words, they see in others the qualities or emotions that they cannot accept or acknowledge in themselves. It allows the person to disown and distance themselves from these unwanted aspects of themselves by perceiving them as belonging to someone else. Projection can occur both in positive and negative contexts. For example, a person who is highly compassionate might project their own kindness onto others, or someone who is struggling with feelings of anger might see others as being angry all the time.
Projective Identification: Projective identification is a more complex defense mechanism that goes beyond simple projection. It involves unconsciously inducing or eliciting the feelings, thoughts, or behaviors in another person that the individual themselves cannot tolerate or does not want to acknowledge. In this process, the individual projects parts of their internal world onto another person, and that person, in turn, begins to identify with and act out those projected aspects. The individual doing the projecting may not be aware that they are doing so, and the recipient of the projection might also be unaware that they are being influenced in this way.
Projective identification can create intense emotional dynamics and can be a source of communication between individuals on an unconscious level. It can be found in various relationships, such as between parents and children, romantic partners, or within therapeutic settings.
In summary, projection involves attributing one's own traits or emotions to others, while projective identification goes a step further, involving an unconscious process of inducing or provoking certain responses in others to handle internal conflicts or uncomfortable feelings. Both concepts are relevant in the field of psychology and psychoanalysis to understand the complexities of human behavior and interpersonal relationships.