Here's the Wikipedia definition of Psychological Projection:
Psychological projection or projection bias is a psychological defense mechanism where a person subconsciously denies his or her own attributes, thoughts, and emotions, which are then ascribed to the outside world, usually to other people. Thus, projection involves imagining or projecting the belief that others originate those feelings.
Projection reduces anxiety by allowing the expression of the unwanted unconscious impulses or desires without letting the conscious mind recognize them.
I've noticed this trend for a while now, but it hasn't been quite so obvious as the past few days.
The most obvious example of this is the assertion that the most vocal homophobes are actually secretly homosexuals themselves, as demonstrated today's story regarding Indiana Rep. Phillip Hinkle.
But sometimes it seems that every accusation made by the right-wing against the left (or anybody, really) always reflects back onto them as a trait they refuse to see in themselves. It seems to be more the rule than the exception.
Tea Party Rep. Tom Graves Denies Responsibility for defaulting on $2.2 million loan. - Calls other people irresponsible while being guilty of the very same thing. Actually, much worse... how many homeowners default on a $2.2 Million loan?
Decrying government "pork" while being the biggest beneficiaries themselves. (Michele Bachmann)
So whenever they make wild accusations, you start to think that they are really accusing themselves:
- Indoctrinating children
- Calling others "Un-American" or unpatriotic
- Being inflexible and unwilling to compromise.
- Having extreme beliefs. Being chained to ideology.
- Power grabbing.
- Beholden to special interests.
- Destroying the economy
- Spending uncontrollably
- Accusations of racism, sexism, etc.
- Intruding into people's personal lives
- Propaganda
And at the risk of invoking whatshisface's law, when they call people Nazis, or fascist, or being like Hitler. If anyone resembles the authoritarian practices of those regimes, it's the right.
So to demonstrate my theory, I held my nose and went to RedState and looked for the first accusation made by right: (I'm not linking because my one pageview is all they deserve)
Obama and his socialist minions at the EPA intuitively understand that energy production in general, and fossil fuels, in particular, serve as the lifeblood of a free and prosperous economy. This is why they have launched an inexorable war against our energy producers. By disrupting our energy productivity, and replacing it with no-growth, impotent green energy sources, Obama plans not only to destroy thousands of jobs within the energy sector, but millions of jobs throughout every facet of the economy – jobs that are so reliant on reliable and cheap energy. The only jobs that will be sparred are the ones of his green corporate cronies, such as Johnson Controls, the electric car battery manufacturer in Michigan that was paid a visit by Obama on Thursday.
So in this one paragraph, they accuse Obama of:
1. Waging "war against American interests
2. Trying to "destroy thousands of jobs"
3. Corporate Cronyism
I don't really think I need to prove projection here, but I guess, why not.
1. The true "war" is against the lower and middle classes. While there isn't a "plan" or conspiracy on Obama's part, there is absolutely a plan to destroy institutions that benefit the lower and middle classes, such as Social Security and Medicare.
2. If anyone is destroying jobs, it's the right wing: Cutting government budgets, leading to massive layoffs. Promoting policies that allow companies to ship jobs overseas.
3. Ahem. Koch. ALEC. Chamber of Commerce. Health Insurance lobby. Telco lobby.... the list goes on and on.
So, I guess the big question is: Are they aware that they are projecting? Or is this a conscious effort on their part to deflect criticism of themselves? If they accuse someone of X, then they can't be accused of X because then it sounds childish on the part of the victim.
I'm thinking it's a bit (a lot) of both.
So I'm proposing this. Whenever they start blabbing about "the left is this" or "the left is that", rather than trying to argue, just simply say:
"You're projecting again."
Because you can't really argue against a neurosis. Applying logic is pointless, because it's by definition illogical. The best you can do is point it out.