Projection is where a person (subconsciously) takes their "uncomfortable" thoughts, feelings, and actions and "projects" them (like a movie projector) onto someone else in an effort to ease themselves of the cognitive dissonance that their thoughts, feelings, and actions cause them.  When people are projecting their behavior they are often largly unaware that they are doing it. 

Targets of narcissistic abuse tend to do something that I refer to as "reverse projection" (not an "official" term).  Reverse projection is where a person "projects" all of their good thoughts, actions, and/or morals onto someone else who doesn't actually have these traits (as seen by their pattern of problematic behavior such as chrnoic lying, cheating, siphoning funds/stealing, etc.)

Both forms of projection are problematic, but if we are holding onto hope that a narcissistic person can change--when all their actions point to them not sincerely being interested in changing, then we will continue to be dragged through hell until we can't handle it anymore.

...Have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast episode or YouTube video? If so, you can send me an email me at: [email protected]  (make sure to use a name that you feel comfortable with me putting on the air), and I'll see what I can do!

 

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