projective identification


projective identification

a defensive attribution of one's own psychic processes to another person.

projective identification

Psychiatry The projection of an emotion or personality trait–with which the person is uncomfortable–onto another person–eg, a child, as in the Munchausen-by-proxy syndrome. See Munchausen-by-proxy syndrome.

pro·jec·tive i·den·ti·fi·ca·tion

(prŏ-jek'tiv ī-den'ti-fi-kā'shŭn) A defensive attribution of one's own psychic processes to another person.