Maria does not have a very good driving record. She has gotten several tickets for running red lights, speeding, and not wearing her seat belt. When asked by the judge at her more recent court appearance why she continually violated driving laws, Maria stated that she was certain others did the same, including the judge. According to Freud, which defense mechanism is Maria employing?

c) Projection

Explanation:

This question is missing its option, the possible answers for this question are:

a.) reaction formation

b.) regression

c.) projection

d.) displacement

In psychology, and specially in the school of psychoanalysis, the term projection refers to a defense mechanism in which the individual defends himself/herself against anxiety generating impulses by denying them in themselves and thinking they belong to others. In other words, they reject their feelings in themselves and think that it is the others the ones who posses these impulses/thoughts/attitudes, or it is the other ones who have these behaviors too.

In this example, Maria has gotten several tickets for running red lights and when she is asked why, she says that she is certain others did the same, including the judge. In other words, Maria is putting her ideas/thoughts thinking they actually belong to others and she is rejecting them in herself. Therefore, this would be an example of projection.