Ever wondered why you might lash out at a barista when you're actually upset with your boss? Or perhaps you've accused someone of the very thing you're struggling with internally? Buckle up for a journey into the human mind with Stacey Frost and Dr. Linton Hutchinson, accompanied by our brilliant therapists, as we dissect the psychological sleight of hand known as projection and displacement. In a blend of enlightening dialogue and humor, we peel back the layers on these defense mechanisms, revealing how they mold our relationships and actions. By the end of our chat, you'll not only be prepped for your exams but also equipped with insights to navigate your inner emotional landscape.
This episode isn't just a deep dive—it's an adventure into self-discovery, tailored with personal anecdotes and relatable scenarios to illustrate the dance of emotions that is projection and displacement. We share a set of tools to help you differentiate between the two, ensuring you can spot them in the therapy room or in the mirror. With our guidance, you'll learn to identify when you're subconsciously dodging personal issues by pinning them on others or channeling frustration into unrelated areas of your life. It's a crucial step for anyone on the path to self-awareness and building healthier relationships, and we can't wait to guide you through it.
If you need to study for your national licensing exam, try the free samplers at: LicensureExams
This podcast is not associated with the NBCC, AMFTRB, ASW, ANCC, NASP, NAADAC, CCMC, NCPG, CRCC, or any state or governmental agency responsible for licensure.
Ever wondered why you might lash out at a barista when you're actually upset with your boss? Or perhaps you've accused someone of the very thing you're struggling with internally? Buckle up for a journey into the human mind with Stacey Frost and Dr. Linton Hutchinson, accompanied by our brilliant therapists, as we dissect the psychological sleight of hand known as projection and displacement. In a blend of enlightening dialogue and humor, we peel back the layers on these defense mechanisms, revealing how they mold our relationships and actions. By the end of our chat, you'll not only be prepped for your exams but also equipped with insights to navigate your inner emotional landscape.
This episode isn't just a deep dive—it's an adventure into self-discovery, tailored with personal anecdotes and relatable scenarios to illustrate the dance of emotions that is projection and displacement. We share a set of tools to help you differentiate between the two, ensuring you can spot them in the therapy room or in the mirror. With our guidance, you'll learn to identify when you're subconsciously dodging personal issues by pinning them on others or channeling frustration into unrelated areas of your life. It's a crucial step for anyone on the path to self-awareness and building healthier relationships, and we can't wait to guide you through it.
If you need to study for your national licensing exam, try the free samplers at: LicensureExams
This podcast is not associated with the NBCC, AMFTRB, ASW, ANCC, NASP, NAADAC, CCMC, NCPG, CRCC, or any state or governmental agency responsible for licensure.
Stacy:
Hello to all our luminescent therapists out there and welcome to our Licensure Exam Podcast. I'm Stacey Frost here with my co-host, Dr Linton Hutchinson.
Linton:
Hey everybody, today's episode is about defense mechanisms, which are unconscious psychological strategies that you and your clients use to cope with anxiety, stress and emotional conflicts. Defense mechanisms are important concepts for you to understand as you prepare and pretty much to better comprehend your client's behavior or send their thought processes.
Stacy:
That's right. By identifying a client's primary defense mechanisms, you can actually gain valuable insights into the underlying issues that might be contributing to their current difficulties. Now, today we're going to be going over two commonly confused defense mechanisms projection and displacement. So we'll start with some simple definitions. First, Take it away, Linton.
Linton:
You know. Let's first talk about projection, which is when your client attributes their own unwanted thoughts, feelings or impulses to another person or another group. Rather than acknowledging and dealing with those undesirable aspects of themselves, they project them onto other people. And why do they do it? Well, many therapists think about defense mechanisms as being harmful, but in reality they can really be lifesavers. Think of it this way Imagine that you're driving down a dirt road with Stacy and Beck in her antique 1956 Ford, without power steering or shock absorbers.
Linton:
Every time she hits a pothole, the impact is not absorbed by the car. It jolts Beck and Stacey inside the car where the sun doesn't shine. Emotions are like that. They're like the holes and bumps that we encounter in life, and defense mechanisms are the shock absorbers that keep us from being emotionally battered, beaten up and thrown out of alignment. And you'll find with your clients, the bigger the bumps that they hit through life, the more intense and ingrained the defense mechanisms have become for directing their lives. What you'll find is that your clients are unconsciously projecting their own self-directed negative emotions of internal conflicts, insecurities or undesirable traits onto others as a way to avoid confronting and dealing with those issues within themselves. And why is this important for you to know as a therapist, stacey?
Stacy:
Well, in many cases, recognizing and addressing projection is the first step in personal growth and self-awareness for a client during therapy and as Linton mentioned, defense mechanisms are happening on an unconscious level, so the client is completely unaware of what they're doing and if you can help them identify instances where they're showcasing those defense mechanisms, you can guide them toward greater self-reflection and understanding.
Linton:
Exactly. Now let's move on to displacement. Displacement is where the client copes with externally triggered negative emotions and redirects those feelings. Usually in anger or frustration, the client will redirect their negative emotions from the original source, regardless of what it is, to a less threatening or a more acceptable target. Displacement allows the client to express their feelings indirectly, but it can lead to problems in relationships and personal functioning if not addressed appropriately Exactly.
Stacy:
So what are some of the similarities and differences between displacement and projection? You might ask? Well, for one. Both are used to cope with anxiety, stress or unacceptable feelings, which is really the nature of all defense mechanisms, and both involve redirecting emotions or feelings from one person or situation to another. So those are how they're similar. What about the differences, lyndon?
Linton:
Okay for the exam. Think the main difference lies in how the emotions or feelings are redirected. Displacement involves redirecting emotions from the original source of distress onto a less threatening target. With projection, the client attributes their own unacceptable feelings or traits to another person.
Stacy:
Okay, well, clear as mud so far. Linton, Keep going.
Linton:
Don't worry, I've got a trick to help you easily distinguish between the two. If you're faced with a question on an exam where you have to decide if the client is engaging in projection or displacement, there are two key factors you need to think about One, the source of the unacceptable unconscious emotion and two, the target of that unacceptable unconscious emotion.
Stacy:
Okay, two factors. I'm with you so far.
Linton:
Okay, displacement is externally generated. Think about that. Displacement is externally generated If the client's emotions being redirected from an external source, like a frustrating situation at work or an argument with a spouse or a friend. If so, it's likely displacement and the kind of emotions you see with displacement are typically these three anger, frustration and aggression.
Stacy:
Okay, that makes sense. So those emotions are often triggered by external situations that your client might perceive as threatening, stressful or unfair. And I'm guessing that if displacement is externally generated, linton, then projection is internally generated.
Linton:
You got it. Projection is internally generated. If the client attempts to cope with an internal conflict such as insecurity or what they perceive as an undesirable trait. Undesirable trait If that's what you're seeing, it's likely projection. And the kind of emotions you'll see with projections are typically the person is feeling shame, they're feeling guilt, they're feeling jealousy, fear, inadequacy and self-doubt. That's what you're going to see with your client exhibiting.
Stacy:
Okay. Well, that's a really great way to break it down, Linton. So the first factor, to consider the original source of the emotion and, like you said, if it's coming from an external situation, it's likely displacement, but if it's coming from the client's own internal conflicts, then it's probably projection. Okay, and you also mentioned identifying the target of the emotion as a way to differentiate between displacement and projection.
Linton:
If the target of the client's negative emotions are a less threatening substitute for the original source of the distress is something you need to think about. Then you're looking at displacement. With displacement, the target is often seen as a less powerful, less important or less able to retaliate compared to the original source of the stress.
Stacy:
If the target is not more or less threatening, let, while projection involves attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts, feelings or impulses onto another person or group. Right between displacement and projection, you want to consider the source and target of the emotion. Displacement is externally generated, often involving anger, frustration and aggression, while projection is internally generated, often involving shame, guilt, jealousy, fear, inadequacy and self-doubt. In displacement, the target of the client's negative emotions is often seen as less powerful, less important or less able to retaliate compared to the original source of distress. And in projection, the target is neutral, basically becomes a repository for the client's disowned or unacknowledged emotions. So next we've got a case study where you get to decide which defense mechanism is at play. So, linton, why don't you tell us a little bit about our beloved Clinton's latest shenanigans?
Linton:
Clinton again, huh.
Stacy:
Yes, Clinton.
Linton:
Okay, clinton was having a terrible day. His Tesla stock was down for the third consecutive month, ethereum was just deemed a security by the SEC. He couldn't find his keys and his grandkid's cat puked on his favorite Hawaiian shirt. Feeling frustrated and annoyed, he went to Publix to grab some sushi from Kai, their amazing sushi chef, to cheer himself up. He knew that Kai would give him extra wasabi. As he reached the sushi section, clinton noticed that another customer was picking up the last package of his beloved dragon rolls.
Linton:
Suddenly, all of Clinton's pent-up frustration from the day came to the surface. He rushed over to the customer and exclaimed excuse me, but I believe that's my sushi. Clinton then snatched it out of the customer's hand. You're such a rude, frustrating and selfish person to only think about your own needs. The startled customer looked at Clinton and made a grab for the sushi, saying hey, sorry, but I picked it up first. So back off for the sushi. Saying hey, sorry, but I picked it up first, so back off. Feeling a bit foolish, clinton said well, I'm having a terrible day and the thought of having those dragon rolls was the only thing that kept me from burning up. The customer, taken aback by Clinton's unusual response, slowly backed down and said well, you know what? Why don't you take the dragon rolls? I think you need them more than I do. Clinton suddenly realized the ridiculousness of his behavior. He took the sushi and mumbled thank you. I guess I was just feeling a bit rolled up in my own problems.
Stacy:
Oh, that Clinton. What a guy. So we'll ask you, all therapists out there, what do you think? Do you think that this is an example of displacement or projection? And we'll give you a minute to think this one through.
Linton:
Or maybe it's something else.
Stacy:
Oh, it could be a trick question. Oh, that would be something Clinton would do.
Linton:
Well, if you guess projection, guess again. Based on the case study presented, it appears that Clinton is exhibiting displacement as a defense mechanism. And what are the key factors that point towards displacement?
Stacy:
Stacey Well, using your handy trick, clinton. First, we need to identify the source of Clinton's anger and frustration. Is it externally or internally generated? And from what I heard, the source of Clinton's negative emotions seems to be external. There was a series of frustrating events throughout his day, including his cryptocurrency woes, losing his keys and his grandchildren's cat puking on his favorite shirt. I'd say that that sounds pretty rough. So these are all external stressors that have led to Clinton feeling frustrated and just downright annoyed.
Linton:
Right. And the second factor to look at is the target of his anger and frustrations. Clinton redirects his pent-up frustration on a less threatening target the customer who is picking up the last package of his beloved Dragon Rolls. Instead of addressing the actual source of his stress, clinton displays you can think of it like misplacing his anger onto the unsuspecting customer who became a substitute target for his frustration.
Stacy:
Okay, great, so let's try a few more. How about this? After a stressful day at work, Tracy your client, she goes home and she yells at her spouse for a minor issue.
Linton:
Would that be displacement or projection, linton? Okay, displacement. The source of the client's anger is based on an external trigger and she's redirecting her anger from work to a safer target her husband, that, tracy, you got to be on guard whenever you're around that lady.
Stacy:
You got that one right.
Linton:
How about?
Stacy:
this one A child is scolded by his parents and later takes out his anger on his younger sibling. Okay, I think that one is a classic example of displacement. So the child becomes angry after being scolded by a parent an external trigger. The child then unconsciously redirects their anger and frustration onto a target who they perceive is less powerful and less able to fight back their younger sibling, rather than confronting the original source of the distress being the parent. All right, and how about this one? Your client feels insecure about their own intelligence and they're constantly accusing other people of being stupid or ignorant.
Linton:
I always hated it when I'd spell intelligence wrong, you know.
Stacy:
Is it two L's, is it two I's?
Linton:
Well, anyways, that sounds like a case of projection, right? The source of the client's negative emotion is internal their own feelings of insecurity about their intelligence. They are struggling with this internal conflict or perceived personal flaw by accusing others of being stupid. They are essentially attributing their own perceived intellectual shortcomings to everyone around them. It's a way of externalizing their internal conflicts and negative self-perception.
Stacy:
And the target of their insecurity isn't necessarily less threatening or powerful than the client, like you'd see with displacement.
Linton:
Right, how about one more before you wrap it up? Okay, ready. You have a client who feels ashamed of their prejudice and accuses others in their community of being prejudiced. Displacement or projection.
Stacy:
Well, it sounds like the source of the client's negative emotions is really internal their own feelings of shame about their own prejudices. And by accusing others of being prejudiced, the client is essentially attributing their own unacceptable attitudes onto those around them, and this allows them to externalize this internal conflict that they have and really avoid taking responsibility for their own bias. So this one seems to point toward projection and our second factor there, determining the target of their feelings. The target of their shame isn't a less threatening or powerful person, it's just kind of everyone in general.
Linton:
Well, you got it.
Stacy:
All right. Well, there you have it A crash course in differentiating between displacement and projection. We hope this discussion has helped clarify these two common defense mechanisms and give you some practical tools for identifying them on your exam.
Linton:
The key to consider the source and the target of the client's emotions. Is the emotion triggered from an external event and redirected onto a less threatening target, then that's displacement. If the emotion is stemming from an internal conflict or insecurity and attributed to others who are not necessarily less powerful, that's projection.
Stacy:
All right and, as we always say, as you study for your exam, remember.
Linton:
It's in there.
Stacy:
It's in there.
Linton:
Come on, stacey, there you go, projecting all over me again.
