Editing Introjection (section)

== Theory ==

Introjection is a concept rooted in the psychoanalytic theories of [[Unconscious mind|unconscious motivations]].<ref name="Jaffe"/> Unconscious motivation refers to processes in the [[mind]] which occur automatically and bypass conscious examination and considerations.<ref name="Westen1999">{{cite journal |last1=Westen |first1=Drew |year=1999 |title=The Scientific Status of Unconscious Processes: Is Freud Really Dead? |journal=Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association |volume=47 |issue=4 |pages=1061–1106 |doi=10.1177/000306519904700404 |pmid=10650551 |s2cid=207080 }}</ref>

Introjection is the learning process or in some cases a defense mechanism where a person unconsciously absorbs experiences and makes them part of their psyche.<ref name="Jaffe"/>

===In learning=== 
In [[psychoanalysis]], introjection ({{langx|de|Introjektion}}) refers to an unconscious process wherein one takes components of another [[Personal identity|person's identity]], such as [[feeling]]s, experiences and cognitive functioning,<ref name=":222">{{Cite journal|last=Hinshelwood|first=R. D.|author-link=R. D. Hinshelwood|date=1995|title=The Social Relocation of Personal Identity as Shown by Psychoanalytic Observations of Splitting, Projection, and Introjection|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/245092|journal=Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology|language=en|volume=2|issue=3|pages=185–204|issn=1086-3303}}</ref> and transfers them inside themselves, making such experiences part of their new [[Psyche (psychology)|psychic]] structure.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jaffe|first=Charles M.|chapter=Introjection in Psychoanalytic Couple and Family Therapy |date=2018|title=Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy|chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_12-1|language=en|pages=1–2|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_12-1|isbn=978-3-319-15877-8 |s2cid=220278667 }}</ref> These components are obliterated from consciousness ([[Splitting (psychology)|splitting]]), perceived in someone else ([[Psychological projection|projection]]),<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Malancharuvil|first=Joseph M.|date=2004-12-01|title=Projection, Introjection, and Projective Identification: A Reformulation|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11231-004-4325-y|journal=The American Journal of Psychoanalysis|language=en|volume=64|issue=4|pages=375–382|doi=10.1007/s11231-004-4325-y|pmid=15577283 |s2cid=19730486 |issn=1573-6741|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and then experienced and performed (i.e., introjected) by that other person.<ref name=":222"/> Cognate concepts are [[Identification (psychology)|identification]], incorporation<ref>A form of taking the outside world into the inner world, being focused on bodily sensation.</ref> and [[Internalization (sociology)|internalization]].

===As a defense mechanism=== 
It is considered a self-stabilizing [[Defence mechanisms|defense mechanism]] used when there is a lack of full psychological contact between a child and the adults providing that child's psychological needs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kBVWDwAAQBAJ&dq=Introjection+relational+mechanism&pg=PT35|title=Relational Patterns, Therapeutic Presence: Concepts and Practice of Integrative Psychotherapy|last=Erskine|first=Richard G.|date=2018-04-17|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9780429918513|language=en}}</ref> In other words, it provides the illusion of maintaining relationship but at the expense of a loss of [[self]].<ref name=":0" /> To use a simple example, a person who picks up traits from their friends is introjecting.

Another straightforward illustration could be a youngster who is being bullied at school. Unknowingly adopting the bully's behavior, the victim youngster may do so to stop being picked on in the future.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introjection, Internalization, Identification, Oh My! |url=https://therapistdevelopmentcenter.com/blog/introjection-internalization-identification-oh-my |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=Therapist Development Center |language=en}}</ref>

[[Psychological projection|Projection]] has been described as an early phase of introjection.<ref name="pmid15577283">{{cite journal |author=Malancharuvil JM |title=Projection, introjection, and projective identification: a reformulation |journal=Am J Psychoanal |volume=64 |issue=4 |pages=375–82 |date=December 2004 |pmid=15577283 |doi=10.1007/s11231-004-4325-y |s2cid=19730486 |url=http://www.kluweronline.com/art.pdf?issn=0002-9548&volume=64&page=375}}</ref>