Were you familiar with "projection" before Donald Trump made it a "household word"? Do you know people who often use projection?

@TheHorse (229470)
Walnut Creek, California
August 9, 2025 4:58pm CST
It is a truism among psychologists:"The best way to know what a person is like is to hear how they describe others." We tend to describe others as we see ourselves. A funny example of this is my brother (and perhaps me). About seven years ago, he told my (now late) Aunt, 'Horse only calls when he knows I won't be home." I had not thought about that. He does not like talking to me. It is a burden to him. But we talk every two weeks or so. We are family. I only call people when I think I will catch them live. Yesterday, I called him. He did not pick up. So I left him a message, letting him know that he could call me later in the evening, as my work day was done. I also told him that I would be working in the morning Saturday (today), but that he could call me in the afternoon, when I would be home from Guitar Center. Of course, there was a message waiting for me when I got home from work..It had been left at 10:45 AM, right in the middle of my work day. One of my Graduate Advisors at UCSB (he was on my dissertation committee) said, simply, "Life is a projective test." Had you thought about "projection" before the current political environment emerged? Do you know people who "describe others as they see themselves"? Something interesting to me (and in mild defiance of Freud) is that projection can include positive things, not just negative things.
5 people like this
4 responses
@wolfgirl569 (120543)
• Marion, Ohio
8h
You usually only notice when they say the negative stuff. I had heard it before.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (229470)
• Walnut Creek, California
8h
I notice when they say positive stuff too. If someone says, "She is such a good harmony singer, and she listens to the musicians around her," I want to play with that person. Does that make sense?
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (120543)
• Marion, Ohio
8h
@TheHorse It does. I think the bad just stands out more
2 people like this
@TheHorse (229470)
• Walnut Creek, California
8h
@wolfgirl569 I try to avoid those who describe (many) others in negative terms.
1 person likes this
• United States
8h
It's been pretty common over the past decade or so. In fact, like most of the other terms or words, it's overused to the extent that it means little when someone uses it in an argument with or against others.
1 person likes this
• United States
7h
@TheHorse Hahah. That's three now.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (229470)
• Walnut Creek, California
8h
Can you elaborate? Or give an example? I am not sure exactly what you are saying.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (229470)
• Walnut Creek, California
7h
@Vikingswest1 I have no idea what you are talking about. You sound iike a madman.
@Fleura (32279)
• United Kingdom
8h
I don't even know what you mean by 'projection' in that context.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (229470)
• Walnut Creek, California
8h
We describe others as we see ourselves.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (10525)
• United States
3h
I took several classes in psychology, so heard of it way before. First class was 1990. I will see quite a few people projecting their own beliefs onto others but also see positive too.