Posted by Racer on July 2, 2006, at 22:17:50
In reply to Re: Projective identification stands up/ recognize, posted by cecilia on July 2, 2006, at 20:47:51
> I've always thought projective identification was just a therapist's way of blaming the victim. You're not being abused, oh no, you're just acting in a way that "makes" the T abuse you. Just like millions of abused wives the world over blame themselves. Cecilia
I respectfully disagree with that view. I have experienced it myself, and I am not a therapist, and I do not believe that I have abused anyone. (Except maybe my cat, who believes it is abusive of me not to provide a lap for his sitting pleasure every time he wants it.)
What you're describing, though, sounds an awful lot more like another sort of defense mechanism on the part of the therapist. Maybe plain vanilla projection? Or something else that I don't know the name of. (I wouldn't be surprised, since I know very little about all this.) I think that situation is pretty much the same as the domestic abuser saying, "You made me do that!" NOT acceptable behavior, and not PI.
Yes, I agree that there are situations in which even therapists blame the victim. But that doesn't mean that PI isn't a real phenomenon, nor that it's a way of blaming the victim. It's kinda like throwing the baby out with the bathwater -- dismissing PI, which is a useful concept, because it *might be* misused in a hurtful manner.
Again, just another view, and I hope you found it respectful of your view. I would very much dislike finding myself in the midst of a firestorm, or that I've hurt someone's feelings inadvertantly.
poster:Racer
thread:663469
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060623/msgs/663685.html