Projection?

Question

Are there any reputable studies backing the theory that you are what you hate, or is it the case that claiming someone is projecting his own issues onto another is itself amatuerish and inappropriate without compelling evidence. For example, I'm pro gay rights, but I don't go around thinking every homophobic person is secretly gay. Is there a reason to think they generally are? It sounds more to me like giving school yard bickering legitimacy.

Doesn't the same logic also conclude that hating paedophles means you are one? Who doesn't feel offense at such a supposition as that?

Answer 1

As Nise said, that is not projection but (to me) reaction formation and several lab experiments have managed to demonstrate something that looks like reaction formation.

One study had female participants complete a questionnaire designed measure their "sex guilt". They were shown graphic, erotic stimuli and asked to report how they felt. Those who scored higher in the questionnaire reported lower levels of arousal but according to phsiological measure they were more sexually aroused than the group who were lower in "sex guilt" (Morokoff, 1985).

Another study dealt with homophobia in whicha group of men were given questionnaires to fill out to measure their "homophobia", their fear of homosexuals and also their own fear of being homosexual. They were then shown videos of what my textbook called "homosexual activity". Those who scored highest leves on the homophobia questionnaire reported lower levels of arousal but showed the highest levels of physiological arousal (Adams, Wright & Lohr, 1996).

But I do not think this suggests that just because you dislike paedophiles you are one but rather if someone really hates paedophiles at an extreme level it could be they are trying to keep those thoughts of a paedophile nature out of their awareness by being very aggressively against paedophilia.

Answer 2

No, there are no reputable studies that I know of. But if you want a theory that only some experts support, here it is. We don't hate people just because we are exactly what they are. But there can be some aspects of them that we won't pay attention within our own mind, but will stress when we meet them elsewhere. The reason is that we may not be consciously aware of them as they are rooted in our subconscious mind. So, we are not aware of them in ourselves, but will resent others for them, they are too close to home. That doesn't imply that people always hate each other and inside are the same. Some hatreds are just pure hatreds, not based on projection but misunderstanding and personal limitation. As in every area, psychology deals with probabilities, so absolutes are not welcome in serious study. Hatred can be a result of a projection, but doesn't have to. As simple as that.

Answer 3

You have the idea of projection wrong. Also, just because someone doesn't agree with giving a tiny percentage of the population special rights doesn't make him/her a homophobe. I absolutely disagree with homosexual behaviour because it's unnatrual and an abomination to our Creator who made us male and female. Love the sinner - hate the sin. Their behaviour is adulterous and the bible teaches adultery is wrong. I respect that they don't have to believe what I believe, but they need to return the courtesy (i.e. I don't have to believe as they do). btw - I have gay friends and family who understand and respect my position so it's not as if it's a foreign world to me. Look up projection and find the true psychological use for the term. God bless you. ~Nise~

Answer 4

homophobes are gay. A study showed that they will deny it even when the researchers know they were aroused by gay porn, while the non-homophobes were not aroused. The researchers put a device on their penis and strapped them into a chair to watch the porn, and left them alone. They had proof. And yet the homophobes would still deny being aroused