Part II    Psychodynamic Theories42
fei75766_ch02_019-071.indd 42  02/19/20 08:59 AMisalways characterized byrepressed homosexual feelings toward thepersecutor. 
Freud believed thatthepersecutor isinevitably aformer friend ofthesame sex,
although sometimes people maytransfer their delusions ontoaperson oftheoppo -
sitesex.When homosexual impulses become toopowerful, persecuted paranoiacs 
defend themselves byreversing these feelings andthenprojecting them ontotheir 
original object. Formen, thetransformation proceeds asfollows. Instead ofsaying, 
“Ilovehim,” theparanoid person says, “Ihatehim.” Because thisalsoproduces too
much anxiety, hesays, “Hehates me.” Atthispoint, theperson hasdisclaimed all
responsibility andcansay,“Ilikehimfine,buthe’sgotitinforme.” Thecentral 
mechanism inallparanoia isprojection withaccompanying delusions ofjealousy 
andpersecution.
Introjection
Whereas projection involves placing anunwanted impulse ontoanexternal object, 
introjection isadefense mechanism whereby people incorporate positive qualities of
another person intotheirownego.Forexample, anadolescent mayintroject oradopt 
themannerisms, values, orlifestyle ofamovie star.Such anintrojection gives theado-
lescent aninflated sense ofself-worth andkeeps feelings ofinferiority toaminimum. 
People introject characteristics thattheyseeasvaluable andthatwillpermit them to
feelbetter about themselves.
Freud (1926/1959a) sawtheresolution oftheOedipus complex asthepro-
totype ofintrojection. During theOedipal period, theyoung child introjects the
authority andvalues ofoneorbothparents—an introjection thatsetsintomotion the
beginning ofthesuperego. When children introject what theyperceive tobetheir
parents’ values, theyarerelieved from thework ofevaluating andchoosing theirown
beliefs andstandards ofconduct. Aschildren advance through thelatency period of
development (approximately ages6to12),theirsuperego becomes more personal -
ized;thatis,itmoves away from arigididentification withparents. Nevertheless, 
people ofanyagecanreduce theanxiety associated withfeelings ofinadequacy by
adopting orintrojecting thevalues, beliefs, andmannerisms ofother people.
Sublimation
Each ofthese defense mechanisms serves theindividual byprotecting theegofrom 
anxiety, buteachisofdubious value from society’s viewpoint. According toFreud 
(1917/1963), onemechanism—sublimation—helps boththeindividual andthesocial 
group. Sublimation istherepression ofthegenital aimofErosbysubstituting acul-
turalorsocial aim.Thesublimated aimisexpressed most obviously increative cultural 
accomplishments suchasart,music, andliterature, butmore subtly, itispartofall
human relationships andallsocial pursuits. Freud (1914/1953) believed thattheart
ofMichelangelo, whofound anindirect outlet forhislibido inpainting andsculpting, 
wasanexcellent example ofsublimation. Inmost people, sublimations combine with
direct expression ofErosandresult inakindofbalance between social accomplish -
ments andpersonal pleasures. Most ofusarecapable ofsublimating apartofour
libido intheservice ofhigher cultural values, while atthesame timeretaining suf-
ficient amount ofsexual drive topursue individual erotic pleasure.Final PDF to printer