Transference and Projection

The phenomena of transference and projection, although solidly accepted in the analytical and psychodynamic schools of psychology in which they originated, are nevertheless complex and often misunderstood concepts. Yet some claim that projection is the single most important phenomenon in psychotherapy.
In this video, Richard Hill helps you understand what transference and projection are, how they develop in a therapeutic relationship, and what forms they tend to take, so that you can recognise them as they occur in your therapy rooms and in your life.
About the lecturer:
Richard Hill (MBMSc, BA (Linguistics), DipProfCouns, MA (Social Ecology), MEd, DPC) is a psychotherapist at the Davis Health Centre in Sydney (Australia) and director of the MindScience Institute (www.mindscienceinstitute.com).
Richard is also a writer and regular speaker at mental health conferences in Australia and around the world.

[@waynepolo6193]

Came here to make sense of a breakup. Was not ready to be called out. 10/10.

[@laraparks7018]

God bless all therapist that truly care. Learning psychology is one thing Practicing it is another Application of the tools of knowledge I's the key

[@mariuszwiesiolek9340]

What a fantastic video, so much information. I came here because my therapist mentioned, "transference", during our session and I wanted to educate myself without taking too much time during the session. I got more than I hoped for. I'll look closely into my relationships with people, on both sides. Thanks!

[@Dani68ABminus]

my experience has taught me that somebody who identifies projectively doesn't do so to feel oneness. It is an insidious form of aggression. The target is set up to take the fall for what the person is unwilling to attribute to and work on themselves. It's a way to rid oneself of badness at the expense of another. Oneness, to me at least, implies an intent for closeness with the other, but in their case, the closeness is parasitic or predatory, not loving.

[@EMC2Scotia]

Oneness? What is your oneness?

[@Dani68ABminus]

+EMC2Scotia The term projection was defined, in part, as a person who does this because he/she 'unconsciously identifies and feels oneess with the other.' Personality disordered people who project their feelings onto others do so because they don't like what they project. That's why they want to rid themselves from those feelings. They project those feelings onto you so they can now dislike you instead of disliking themselves. They don't do so to generate oneness.

[@EMC2Scotia]

Isn't it your job to be projected onto? In the 'client's daily lives these projections onto others are rejected or avoided at every opportunity, so perhaps its not so much ridding oneself of unwanted feelings as coming to terms with them. Perhaps you want the loving projections, the 'oneness'?

[@Dani68ABminus]

+EMC2Scotia I'm not a shrink...you're barking up the wrong tree.

[@OfftoShambala]

I've been aware of the general idea about transference and I absolutely recognize that what you are saying is so true and I have experienced, from others, the type u speak about... however I do think a person could transfer and or project positive beliefs about or onto others and this could be thought of as naive, perhaps... although I am just beginning to delve into these more deeply and maybe this initial hypothesis is not necessarily what's going on

[@TheHappyNisha]

Well explained Sir. With all my encounters as a Transpersonal Arts Therapist, I'm always left with the feeling that everyone in our humanity feel these Transferences and Projections all the time; and for me, they're all necessary for any healing and soul transformation to occur. The work (even outside of any therapy room), is to become conscious and aware of the feelings between any relationship interplay. Compassion may then arrive, and possibly eventually world peace.

[@juliecantin]

What an excellent presentation! I've learned a lot from this.

[@ioanacupsa7710]

Thank you very much for such a clear and comprehensive presentation.

[@astridgeerinck452]

Most interesting and helpful. Thanks

[@lvxaethernum9872]

Interesting how the conclusion of the sublime projective identification is a grasping perception of the ambivalence that may inhabit another, and therefore be able to also own the ambivalence inside oneself. In this case, it would be to come to terms with one´s own golden shadow by seeing the imperfections in others, that we have projected divinely onto.

[@hokulea8655]

Thank you for this lesson, i understand so much more now🙏

[@valerieannegagnon8803]

one hell of a good professor

[@vincentzevecke4578]

I learn a lot from it. He give me a better insight about transference

[@johnglennmercury7]

Thank you for a great talk, @Richard. Could you recommend some books on the subject of transference & its use for therapists?

[@skrame01]

excellent presentation!

[@emmapinn5216]

So informative. Thank you

[@farzanehsaeedzadehsardahae3146]

A fantastic talk. Thank you.

[@unusualpond]

This was truly helpful thank you

[@American-psyche]

Good ideas. Here's another good video: Integral Psychology & Relational Psychoanalysis

[@ValeriePuente]

Thank you for this!! Brilliant presentation!

[@yoramalon5273]

I recognise more than 50 categories of projection, and i am not a therapist. I see a lot of projection in other people, very common.

[@teresaparracho8875]

Thank you. Very helpful.

[@MsMsmak]

Excellent presentation.

[@cadmantheaviator]

Do you think a person entering a therapy can have legitimate grounds for percieving the therapy as destablising if a therapist has not answered questions about the type of therapy, the goals, their assessment etc? That the reactions in, say a group therapy, towards the conductor is based on a distrust created by the way in which a therapist has sidestepped informed consent. My experience was that my year in a group therapy was a total waste as there was nothing about the therapy itself allowed for discussion. It began with a stalemate, wore me down and ended badly. It seems to me still to have created a loop of rumination in me that can't be resolved. It seems like being tricked into a complex, excluding labrynth, which has certainly left me impaired.

[@EMC2Scotia]

Transference is Alcibiades addressing Socrates. Projection is a paper thin catch all concept

[@jackwilliamatkins5602]

I project with ❤️ and transfer with ❤️.

[@AreneStheme]

Thank you: appreciate this very much!

[@actuary1233]

Come and say gday!

[@johnzeller3371]

I kept thinking that the plant lurking in the background was going to leap on and devour the presenter, sort of like Little Audrey; what's my problem?

[@source.fountain]

How does this revolve or worked through when client is already in process of projective identification of a narcisistic realtive. Narcisitic abusive exploitative detrimental abuse, inviting theraphist to react, join reassurement of patients abuser.

[@yoramalon5273]

Projective identification is rare. Quite conflicting. Feeling oneness with projected flaws, requires cognitive acceptance of one's flaws ,first. Cognitive self acceptance is not subconscious. A conflicting term.

[@jakewalko1632]

Can someone point me towards some sources further elucidating the topic of projecting the sublime on an individual? Thanks.

[@louisegarner8888]

San Vaknin - shared idealisation via introjective and projective identification.

[@sandratrafford8125]

My aunty is doing to me covertly. She's 91. I'm unwell. It's abusive

[@lawistruth]

Makes a lot of sense!

[@brittanyg2529]

I’m still confused on what transference is

[@virvisquevir3320]

Brittany Love - It's transferring the dynamics of your relationship as a helpless, dependent infant with your mother - and to a lesser extent with your father - onto your relationships with other people as an adult. Your parents taught you - in a deep and lasting way, they set the template - what to expect from other people in relationships when you are an adult and what to prepare for. If your parents were kind and loving and encoraging, things are better; if your parents were controlling, humiliating and mocking, you will subconsciously expect that from other people and prepare to defend yourself and counterattack even when the other person's intentions are good. Or so the theory goes. I don't believe a word of it or the whole Freudian shit show. Most of us grow and evolve and are clear-eyed and robust enough to see the plusses and minuses of our parents and treat people we meet as adults as a whole new kettle of fish. Morbidly obsessing over childhood experiences will only be an unnecessary weight and hold you back. Be grateful for all the good you received as a child and move on to bigger and better things with a wide and open set of expectations. There are wonderful people out there and crazy people out there - nothing to do with your parents. Cheers!

[@brittanyg2529]

Vir Visque Vir thank you for the explanation. That makes sense. I lost my mom when I was 4, my dad became a chaotic, alcoholic and abusive man.. I just left an abusive relationship after only a few months. I’m in therapy once again to help me grow, forgive and heal. I don’t know why I keep attracting narcissistic men.. I’ve grown a lot in the past few years but obviously I still have more to do. I have forgiven my dad and healed from my mom’s passing. I became an addict from 15-27. I’m now 30 and just learning that I must heal myself or repeat history. I’m a mother now and know that we learn about 90% of our information from 0-5 years old!

[@MrMattias87]

You still need back your claims up if you want to disprove psychodynamic theories. Saying "i dont believe of word of it" won't do

[@goldbrick2563]

4:37 damn it took this guy 4 minutes to get to the point.

[@runlolarun8957]

Abusers also threaten to leave all the time but don't.

[@virvisquevir3320]

Brittany Love - It's transferring the dynamics of your relationship as a helpless, dependent infant with your mother - and to a lesser extent with your father - onto your relationships with other people as an adult. Your parents taught you - in a deep and lasting way, they set the template - what to expect from other people in relationships when you are an adult and what to prepare for. If your parents were kind and loving and encoraging, things are better; if your parents were controlling, humiliating and mocking, you will subconsciously expect that from other people and prepare to defend yourself and counterattack even when the other person's intentions are good. Or so the theory goes. I don't believe a word of it or the whole Freudian shit show. Most of us grow and evolve and are clear-eyed and robust enough to see the plusses and minuses of our parents and treat people we meet as adults as a whole new kettle of fish. Morbidly obsessing over childhood experiences will only be an unnecessary weight and hold you back. Be grateful for all the good you received as a child and move on to bigger and better things with a wide and open set of expectations. There are wonderful people out there and crazy people out there - nothing to do with your parents. Cheers!

[@alanamarie8669]

I see you have a lot of knowledge on this subject, have you published anything? What is your educational background? Please tell me more?

[@virvisquevir3320]

Loni Kaloni - I'll be writing a big, fat book next year. I have a Ph.D. in philosophy. I'll let you know when it's finished. What about you? What are your interests and aspirations? What do you think of Freud, Jung and psychology? My favourite psychologist and philosopher is William James - look him up. Pragmatism and consequences. "By their fruits, ye shall know them." Cheers!

[@alanamarie8669]

Vir Visque Vir I will look him up! I am graduating in May - BA in Psychology then applying to Grad school. I think Freud obviously knew what he was talking about with his theory of ego, though he delved way too far into libido. Jung picked up a lot more of his paths without so much of the sexual connotations, but you still have to go back to Freud for his theories on defense mechanism, back to Jung for his work on the Shadow self. It is all relevant to childhood and effects you until/unless you deal with it or conquer it. Good luck with your book.

[@virvisquevir3320]

Loni Kaloni - Thank you and good luck with your studies. I don't think Freud's or Jung's theories are "true" or "untrue", I think they are "more useful" or "less useful", "more helpful" or "less helpful", "more functional" or "less functional"... on a scale... to certain people in certain situations... We all have to be robust in a tough world.... Depending on your life objectives and hangups from childhood, different therapies might be useful... I like Woody Allen's line: "After 20 years of psychoanslyses, the only thing my analyst had to say to me was "Hey, lighten up.". Self-worth, self-confidence, and giving everyone a fair chance - while being aware that there really are bad and sick people out there - is the goal. Everyone should reach their full potential. Cheers!

[@alanamarie8669]

​@@virvisquevir3320 Thank you! Yes, I agree with your analysis, a heartier person is better able to recover or adapt from maladaptive child development and attachments issues...Every person is unique and there is definitely a degree of buck up. My goal is School Psychologist, one of my interests is early intervention with elementary school children who display these types of development/behavioral indicators.

[@oo8405]

wow

[@ragytag]

Isn’t this stuff Jungian and not Freudian?

[@AftreGaol]

Nobody's perfect........

[@64Magick]

ALL that................and nothing was said.

[@sillyfoxer9927]

A lot was said and it was profound. If you cannot see that, then you are experiencing a text book dunning kreuger moment. Its fascinating

[@mariabiboso2351]

Read well..and don't make your voice like bits of thunders...irritating. .. JUST TELL A STORY PLEASE.