Don’t you know what introjection is? Introjection is a term used in psychology to describe the unconscious adoption of ideas or attitudes from others. In fact, it is a more common process than is believed, since it refers to the assumption of external behaviors or beliefs, but without understanding why we have assumed them.
Furthermore, introjection turns out to be a defense mechanism that is adopted unconsciously and that can end up causing us to ignore the reality around us. In this Psychology-Online article you will find What is introjection in psychology and some examples that can serve to identify how this process occurs.
What is introjection in psychology
The concept of introjection was coined by him based on his research work in the field of psychoanalysis.
Introjection in psychology is the process by which a person incorporates into himself the attitudes, behaviors and traits of another person. Once an introject is acquired, these attitudes and behaviors become part of the person’s “personality.”
For its part, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines introjection as a process through which an individual “absorbs” the qualities of external elements and incorporates them into their psyche in the form of mental representations or introjects.
Some main characteristics of introjection they would be the following:
- The term introjection has its roots in , in which it is contrasted with projection.
- Introjection is a process that can reduce the individual’s ability to express feelings.
- Introjection is part of people’s value schemes, as in the case of learning transmitted by parents to their children.
- Introjects can be used as a defense mechanism in situations that generate anxiety, as it allows people to justify their defects or shortcomings.
In any case, introjection is about the internalization of traits acquired from the environment and that are accepted as truths, without conscious questioning or criticism of them.
How to do an introjection in psychology
How do introjects arise? The introjection process starts from the first years of life. It begins with the internalization of ideas and feelings from the environment, particularly from another very close person such as, for example, mother, father, caregivers, friends, teachers, among others.
It is normal that in introjection all the ideas, emotions and feelings that are taken from your role models are assumed as truths. In fact, over time it will be difficult for the individual to discern Whether those ideas are your own or acquired by the person who transmitted it to you in the past.
How to identify introjects
Once introjection is part of the mental schemes, how to identify introjects? This it is a difficult task, since this implies that the person is able to discern their ideas from those of others. For this reason, introjects are complicated to modify, since it has been an emotionally significant experience and one that the person harbors unconsciously.
Furthermore, those who acquire introjects feel that modifying that thought or belief would be a betrayal towards the person who instilled it in them.
Examples of introjection in psychology
There are many examples of introjection, which are unconsciously put into practice on a regular basis. Now, let’s look at some of them:
- Introjection example 1: when a parent instills in children the idea that: “children don’t cry.” This makes the child take that premise as his own and assimilates it as part of his world and his reality.
- Introjection example 2: If someone you admire tells you that they like hiking and you consider it even though you have never been interested in it, that would be introjection. In this case, you may even put their opinion above your own feelings about it, automatically assuming that since it was someone you admire who introduced you to the idea, it must be correct.
- Introjection example 3: When parents tell girls from a young age: “a woman must have a man by her side to be happy,” the assimilation of an external idea as an irrefutable truth occurs.
- Introjection example 4: when a person grows or develops in an environment in which they frequently hear: “you can’t trust anyone.” Obviously, this introject will hinder the ability to establish interpersonal relationships based on trust.
Conclusions about introjection
Introjection involves an unconscious process through which the individual assimilates behaviors and ideas from other persons with which he identifies and which, in reality, is something completely different from that individual.
Often, these thoughts and beliefs are not consistent with the subject’s personality, but are internalized without question. Additionally, although introjection can be helpful in overcoming negative feelings, it can also cause problems if you are not aware of what is happening to you.
Therefore, it is necessary to review and question one’s own beliefs to be able to know ourselves thoroughly and freely choose what ideas and attitudes we should really stick with to enhance our well-being.
If you found this post about introjection useful, we recommend other articles linked to this topic. It’s about and .
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to What is introjection in psychology and exampleswe recommend that you enter our category.
References
- American Psychological Association official website: https://dictionary.apa.org/introjection
Bibliography
- Abraham, N. (2005). The crime of introjection. In: N.Abraham and M. Torok, The cortex and the nucleus (pp. 115-122). Buenos Aires: Amorrortu.
- Casullo, A. (2019). Introjection and/or incorporation Exploring narcissistic links between generations. Magazine of the Argentine Society of Psychoanalysis. Number 23.