Application of projection effect

In our life, when we know and evaluate others, we often have to be influenced by our own characteristics. We can't help but speculate others' ideas with our own ideas. We think that since we all think so, others must also think so. As the saying goes, "to the heart of a villain, to the belly of a gentleman" is about this situation. This phenomenon is called projection effect in psychology.

The so-called projection effect is that when people do not know the situation of others (such as personality, likes and dislikes, desires, ideas, emotions, etc.), they tend to subjectively think that others have the same characteristics as themselves. That is to say, people always like to assume that others have some of the same tendencies as themselves, and they like to think that they have certain characteristics that others also have. Projective effect is a kind of cognitive impairment, in which one's own feelings and wills are projected onto others and imposed on others. For example, a greedy person always thinks that other people are addicted to money; if he often lies, he thinks that others are always deceiving him; if he feels good about himself, he thinks that others think he is excellent too

The subjective projection psychology in life is often harmful to our interpersonal relationship and our own mental health. In order to avoid projective effect, we need to learn to think in other's position, that is, to put ourselves in the other's position and look at others. When we communicate with others, if we can stand on each other's position, think for each other, understand each other's needs and feelings, then we can have good communication with others, and it is easier to reach understanding and consensus.