X has a strong dislike for Y. As Y is an influential and rich local politician, X is unable to express his true feelings. Gradually, he convinces himself on flimsy grounds that Y does not like him.
How will you account for X’s feeling that Y does not like him.
1. Y must have through his behaviour led X to this feeling.
2. X may have misread Y’s behaviour towards him or misinterpreted his body language.
3. X seems to have come to a random conclusion.
4. This feeling could be a psychological projection on X’s part.
The firsts answer choice is incorrect since X has come to this conclusion on flimsy grounds.
For the same reason, the second option can also be ruled out.
The third choice does notcontain any clue to explain the feeling which X has formed. It gives no reason or suggestion for the feeling that X has formed.
The fourth answer choice is the appropriate one. X has transferred his feelings to Y. That is to say he converted his dislike for Y into an unfounded feeling that Y does not like him. Projection allows the expression of one’s desire or impulse, but in a way that the ego cannot recognise. It hides one’s real feelings from one’s self. It thus reduces anxiety.