Which defense mechanism involves projecting one's own unacceptable feelings onto others?

The chosen answer correctly identifies projection as the defense mechanism in which an individual attributes their own unacceptable feelings, thoughts, or impulses to others. This process allows the individual to avoid facing their own unwanted emotions by perceiving them in someone else, thus alleviating internal conflict and anxiety. For example, a person who is feeling angry may accuse others of being hostile, effectively deflecting their own feelings onto others.

Understanding projection is important in psychology because it illustrates how people often manage their emotional struggles unconsciously. It highlights the complexity of human emotions and interpersonal relationships, where one’s inner feelings can alter perceptions of others and interactions.

In contrast, denial involves refusing to accept reality or facts, repression involves unconsciously blocking unacceptable thoughts or impulses from entering awareness, and displacement shifts emotional responses from a true target to a less threatening one. While these are all valid defense mechanisms, they do not specifically involve the act of projecting one's own feelings onto someone else, which is the hallmark of projection.