DIMENSIONS OF PROJECTION

SUGGESTED THAT THEORIES OF PROJECTION DIFFER WITH REGARD TO 2 POINTS: (1) WHETHER THE S PROJECTS HIS OWN TRAIT OR A DIFFERENT TRAIT, AND (2) WHETHER THE S IS AWARE OR UNAWARE OF POSSESSING THE TRAIT WHICH RESULTS IN THE PROJECTION. THE 4 POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS RESULTING FROM THESE THEORETICAL DIFFERENCES ARE PLOTTED IN A 2 * 2 TABLE, PROVIDING A SYSTEM IN WHICH THE VARIOUS TYPES OF PROJECTION CAN BE COMPARED. A REVIEW OF THE RESEARCH ON EACH TYPE REVEALS EVIDENCE FOR THE PROJECTION OF S'S OWN TRAIT OR THE COMPLEMENT OF THIS TRAIT IF S IS AWARE THAT HE POSSESSES THE TRAIT. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE FOR ANY TYPE OF PROJECTION RESULTING FROM A TRAIT OF WHICH THE S IS UNAWARE. THIS FINDING CALLS INTO QUESTION THE EXISTENCE AND INTERPRETIVE USE OF CLASSICAL PROJECTION. (2 P. REF.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1968 American Psychological Association.