1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Depression

Projection

By Nancy Schimelpfening, About.com

Updated September 12, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition: Projection is a type of defense mechanism. In projection, a person experiences an emotion or thought that they aren't able to cope with. So, instead, they perceive the thought or feeling as if it had come from someone else. One example of this mechanism is the person who is angry at a friend, but does not feel comfortable with feelings of anger in himself. He may instead deny these feelings and imagine that his friend is the angry one.
Explore Depression
About.com Special Features

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Depression
  4. Glossary
  5. Glossary - P
  6. Projection - Definition of Projection>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.