In the article we will talk about introjection as a protective mechanism of the human psyche. We will get acquainted with this psychological term, and also try to understand its fundamental bases and influence on the life of each individual. This phenomenon is quite common, and the consequences of it may not be so rosy.
What is it about?
So, introjection is a way of psychological protection of a person, which is activated at an unconscious level. The word itself comes from two Latin roots, which mean "inside" and "put". In other words, we can say that introjection is a process during which a person transfers various images of the subjective space into his unconscious. It absorbs various patterns, judgments, evaluations, etc., which are completely devoid of any objectivity, because they belong to this or that person.
Interestingly, this term was introduced into psychoanalysis in 1909. This was done by one of the little-known, but talented followers of the great Sigmund Freud, Sandor Ferenczi, a Hungarian psychoanalystorigin.
Research in this area
Freud himself did not consider it necessary to distinguish between such concepts as identification and introjection. He attached great importance to the second mechanism, because he considered it very important. His concept of identification later became the basis for understanding the study of Stockholm Syndrome.
After some time, researchers thought that introjection is a very old archaic model of unconscious human behavior. At the same time, Freud considered this phenomenon the basis for the formation of the oedipal complex, which consists in the boy's desire to own his mother and get rid of his competitor - his father. Freud associated this with the identification of the child with his mother and the transfer of her image into his unconscious.
Let's take a closer look
So, introjection in psychology is a scenario of behavioral defense. This phenomenon is very closely intertwined with the relationship between individuals. As we know, for personal growth it is necessary to erect boundaries between yourself and others within reasonable limits.
Everything accepted by a person from the external environment will be effective for her only if she experiences it, somehow works it out and thinks it over. If the outside world is accepted indiscriminately, then it will remain unnoticed by consciousness, nevertheless it will be a psychological parasite.
To date, it is believed that introjection is the simplest form of identification, but, unlike the latter process, it is not recognized by a person. And to put it more succinctly,understandably, today it is believed that this process consists in the fact that a person perceives some external phenomena and events as his internal ones.
Adaptive function
The process in question has a great influence on the formation of a person's personality, his concepts of morality, affection, etc. The dependence is especially pronounced in childhood. At this age, children are like sponges, because they absorb some kind of norms, prejudices, behavior patterns, reactions, etc. They adopt them from people who are important and significant to them. The most interesting thing is that such a reaction occurs even before a person decides consciously to be like or not to be like his loved ones.
Protective role
The psychological defense of a person and the mechanisms of psychological defense cannot be imagined without introjection. The fact is that it is thanks to introjection that a completely small child can consider himself strong and powerful, despite the fact that in fact he is physically weak.
This becomes possible as a result of the fact that he transfers to himself some qualities of character traits of adults important to him. Sometimes this way of protecting a person can persist even when he grows up. In this case, in difficult situations or situations of dependencies and conflicts, such a person feels that he has a protector. However, for most people, introjection turns into identification.
Destructive influence
The fact is that introjection in psychology -This is not only a positive experience, but also a negative one. Any psychological defense somewhat distorts the perception of reality. The fact is that a person begins to feel the external as something internal.
This is dangerous because when something changes in the external environment, a person can perceive it as a loss of something internal, some qualities, values, points of support. As a result, this can lead to depression. A person tries to remain whole inside, while he believes that he really lost something, he tries either to blame himself for this, or to look for reasons. In any case, this makes life very difficult for him and sometimes forces him to turn to professionals.
Introjection Examples
Let's talk about cases when you can see the manifestation of this process in real life. A very striking example is the case when we say that a man should or a woman should. Such ideas are inherent in every person to some extent, but they greatly limit relationships.
Most often, it is precisely this kind of attitude that prevents starting relationships, building them normally, resolving difficulties and conflicts, etc. The fact is that, entering into a relationship, a person at some stage simply relaxes and begins to act automatically. He trusts a loved one so much that he believes that he can be completely open with him. It is then that the reactions of introjection begin to appear. For no reason, the partner may begin to react strangely to some ordinary things. If the couple has a good relationship, then this can be discussed and revealed thatthe person himself does not know why he did one way or another. If you dig even deeper, it turns out that he has some beliefs, based on which he acts without even realizing it.
This is interesting
Introjection is a concept that is best seen through the examples we've done above. Now that we understand the nature of this process, it is necessary to talk about how dangerous it is. The fact is that this process is an example of how some information enters us completely unconsciously and uncontrollably. And after that, we act according to the data received, and only after that we try to find logic in our decisions.
Interestingly, introjection is equally inherent in neurotics and he althy people, so absolutely everyone is faced with such a phenomenon from birth. The creator of the term "introjection" believed that this mechanism causes neurotic conflicts and other psychological processes.
As a result, this can lead to neurosis, which happens quite often in a person's ordinary life. The fact is that neurotics are just characterized by such blurred boundaries between their own "I" and the outside world. They very often look for some external object in order to absorb it with their inner world and thus expand the boundaries, equate themselves to this object.
In Gest alt, such reactions imply a process when some results of thinking or evaluation are accepted by a person as if without censorship. Scientists have identified three phasesintrojections:
- Full.
- Partial.
- Assimilation.
Complete introjection in an infant. Partial is formed in a child who already observes and partially understands the outside world. The assimilation phase can begin both in childhood and in adulthood. It is characterized by the fact that a person blurs the boundaries between him and the stranger.
Victims
Unconscious psychological process can lead to the fact that a person finds himself in the position of a victim. In fact, introjection is inherent in us at any age, so even an adult should pay more attention to this.
It manifests itself in the fact that we merge with various images that appear in our psyche. It is believed that all images are placed in the super-ego of a person, that is, in his unconscious structure. This structure of images is replenished approximately at the age of 2 to 12 years, when a person begins to understand what is good, what is bad, what is possible, what is not, begins to distinguish between his figure and the figure of his parents.
If some kind of introject was formed in the super-ego in childhood, then getting rid of it is not easy. And the earlier the installation appeared, the more difficult it is to separate it from itself. Moreover, both sides suffer from the negative effects of this phenomenon. One person makes demands on another and is disappointed, while the second feels angry and resentful because they cannot match these characteristics. As a matter of fact, he shouldn't match them.
Bsociety
People prone to introjection are distinguished by the fact that they immediately want to interact, open their souls, share everything. In fact, all their contacts are rather superficial, because their true closeness is incomprehensible and unknown. They rarely reach this stage unless they sort out their inner problems.
It also happens that people who do not know how to set boundaries between themselves and others suffer from sexual promiscuity. They have too many partners, they can't stop. They try to quickly interact with a person, and after the merger, they immediately begin to look for another image, so as not to recognize the person and not be disappointed.
Some people are used to such a feature of their psyche and do not even want to understand, because it helps to avoid responsibility. In other words, you can blame some external circumstances, other people for everything. Such a person constantly claims that traditions, the country, other people, his friends, parents, etc. are to blame for everything. The worst thing is that he does not even realize that his behavior is just the work of a certain mechanism, and not his personality. And the mechanism can be customized if desired. To do this, simply listen to your heart, no matter how surprisingly simple this advice may seem.
