Understanding Defense Mechanisms: Projection

Alois and Shane: A Case of Projection

Alois knows that he has been drinking too much lately. His drinking is beginning to interfere with his classwork and other responsibilities. One night his roommate Shane comes home after a night at the bar and leaves the fridge open, spoiling some of their food. Alois accuses Shane of being an alcoholic and says that he needs to get help immediately.

Which defense mechanism is Alois using?

Alois is using the defense mechanism of projection.

By accusing Shane of being an alcoholic, Alois is projecting his own feelings of guilt and shame about his own excessive drinking onto Shane.

Projection is a defense mechanism where an individual attributes their own undesirable thoughts, emotions, or behaviors onto another person. In this case, Alois is unable to confront his own excessive drinking and is instead projecting it onto Shane.

By doing so, he is attempting to distance himself from his own problem and avoiding taking responsibility for it. However, this approach is not constructive as it doesn't address the root cause of Alois' problem, which is his own excessive drinking.