introjection
UK[ˌɪntrəˈdʒɛkʃən]US[ˌɪntrəˈdʒɛkʃən]
n
The unconscious process of incorporating the attitudes, values, or qualities of another person or object into one's own personality.
n
In psychoanalytic theory, the internalization of external objects or relationships.
Morpheme Breakdown
intro
ject
ion
intro
inward
ject
throw
ion
action/process
Etymology
The word "introjection" is a modern psychological term constructed from classical Latin elements. It is built on the verb "introject," which itself combines the prefix intro- (inward) with the root -ject (to throw). This literal sense of "throwing inward" provides a vivid metaphor for the psychological process it describes. The concept was developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily within psychoanalytic theory, to name the unconscious mechanism of internalizing external attributes. Thus, the word's formation follows a clear logical path from the physical act of casting something inside to the abstract mental process of adopting external characteristics into the self.
Analysis
Structure: intro (inward) + ject (throw) + ion (action/process)
- intro: A Latin prefix meaning "inward," "to the inside," or "within."
- ject: From the Latin root jacere, meaning "to throw" or "to cast."
- ion: A Latin-derived suffix forming nouns that denote an action, process, or its result.
Examples
The child's introjection of his father's strict moral code influenced his behavior well into adulthood.
In therapy, she worked to identify which beliefs were a result of introjection and which were authentically her own.
The psychoanalyst explained introjection as a primitive defense mechanism related to identification.