Theory of Personality (D564) Practice Exam 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Projection as a defense mechanism involves attributing one's own unacceptable qualities, feelings, or impulses to other individuals. This occurs when a person recognizes certain traits within themselves that they find uncomfortable or undesirable and thus projects those traits onto others, mistakenly perceiving them as inherent characteristics in someone else. For example, if someone is feeling particularly aggressive but is uncomfortable with that feeling, they might accuse others of being hostile or confrontational rather than acknowledging their own aggression.

This mechanism serves to protect the individual from their own distress by externalizing their inner conflicts, allowing them to avoid confronting uncomfortable feelings directly. It is a common psychological response that highlights how individuals may struggle with self-awareness or self-acceptance, utilizing projection as a way to cope with inner turmoil.

The other options describe different defense mechanisms, such as displacement (redirecting emotions), denial (refusal to accept reality), and sublimation (redirecting negative thoughts into socially acceptable actions), which are distinct from the process of projection.