Jung's Words
"Moreover, he is the material with which the analysis (synthesis) is made. For it is a question of the success of the treatment. The legs in the dream recall an impression of the previous evening. He met a lady at a dancing lesson whom he wished to conquer; he pressed her to him so closely that she once cried out. After he had stopped pressing against her legs, he felt her firm responding pressure against his lower thighs as far as just above his knees, at the place mentioned in the dream."— Sigmund Freud, Dream Psychology: Psychoanalysis for Beginners
"My answer is: "From many widely different sources, from fairy tales and myths, jokes and farces, from folklore, that is, the knowledge of the customs, usages, sayings and songs of peoples, from the poetic and vulgar language. Everywhere we find the same symbolism and in many of these instances we understand them without further information."— Sigmund Freud, A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis
"The fact that we meet our parents in the dream as imperial or royal persons is at first surprising. But it has its parallel in the fairy tale. Doesn't it begin to dawn upon us that the many fairy tales which begin "Once upon a time there was a _king_ and a _queen_" intend nothing else than, "Once there was a _father_ and a _mother_?" In our families we refer to our children as _princes_, the eldest as the _crown-prince_. The king usually calls himself the _father of the country_."— Sigmund Freud, A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis
"The nature of the symbol relationship is a comparison, but not any desired comparison. One suspects a special prerequisite for this comparison, but is unable to say what it is. Not everything to which we are able to compare an object or an occurrence occurs in the dream as its symbol; on the other hand, the dream does not symbolize anything we may choose, but only specific elements of the dream thought. There are limitations on both sides."— Sigmund Freud, A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis
"Now you will be glad to hear that the analysis of phobias cannot teach much more that is new. The same thing occurs in them as in the fear of children; unemployed libido is constantly being converted into real fear and so a tiny external danger takes the place of the demands of the libido. This coincidence is not strange, for infantile phobias are not only the prototypes but the direct prerequisite and prelude to later phobias, which are grouped with the anxiety hysterias."— Sigmund Freud, A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis
Using Inner
Use Inner to track your dreams and journal entries. Look for patterns where you feel strong emotions towards others that seem disproportionate. Ask yourself: What qualities in this person trigger me? How do these qualities relate to my own behavior or feelings? Note any recurring themes and explore them through active imagination exercises.
Try Inner for FreeHow It Manifests
- →Feeling intense emotions towards others that seem exaggerated or out of proportion.
- →Consistently attracting people who exhibit traits you dislike in yourself.
- →Experiencing recurring conflicts with friends, family, or colleagues over similar issues.
- →Feeling a strong need to change or fix someone else’s behavior.
- →Having a hard time accepting positive qualities in others that you wish you had.
- →Feeling defensive or reactive when someone points out your flaws.
In Dreams
In dreams, projection often appears as figures or characters who embody traits you find difficult to accept in yourself. For example, a dream about a critical boss might represent your own self-criticism. Robert Johnson suggests exploring these figures by asking: What does this character say or do that resonates with me? How can I integrate this aspect of myself?
In Relationships
Projection shows up in relationships when we see qualities in others that are actually reflections of our own unconscious feelings or desires. This can lead to attractions, where we idealize someone for traits we wish we had, or conflicts, where we feel triggered by behaviors that mirror our own issues. Recognizing and working through these projections can foster deeper understanding and growth.
Integration Practices
- 1Journal about moments when you felt strong emotions towards others. Reflect on what these feelings reveal about your own inner world.
- 2Practice active imagination by engaging with the figures in your dreams or daily life as if they were parts of yourself.
- 3Use mindfulness to observe your reactions and thoughts without judgment, noting any patterns that emerge.
- 4Explore your shadow through guided meditations or therapeutic exercises designed to uncover hidden aspects of your personality.
- 5Write a letter to the part of you that projects, expressing gratitude for its role in protecting you and inviting it to integrate more fully into your conscious self.
Related Content
Displacement
Redirecting emotional feelings from the original source to a substitute target.
Reaction Formation
Converting unwanted or dangerous thoughts into their opposites in behavior.
Externalization
Perceiving internal threats as if they are external, attributing inner experiences to outside causes.
Introjection
Incorporating external attributes, attitudes, or standards into one's own ego structure.
Projective Identification
Projecting an aspect of oneself onto another person and then behaving in ways that pressure them to act it out.