Projection and repression are considered what type of psychological concept?

Projection and repression are categorized as defense mechanisms in psychology. Defense mechanisms are strategies employed by the unconscious mind to protect an individual from anxiety and distress that arise from uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, or experiences.

Projection involves attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to someone else, effectively displacing internal conflicts outward to avoid confronting them directly. For example, a person who feels hostile may accuse others of being angry or aggressive.

Repression, on the other hand, involves unconsciously blocking unacceptable thoughts or emotions from awareness. This mechanism helps individuals cope with painful memories or feelings by pushing them out of conscious thought, allowing one to function without the distress caused by those repressed experiences.

Understanding these concepts as defense mechanisms helps in identifying how individuals deal with inner conflicts and stress. The other options, while related to psychological processes, do not specifically encompass the roles of projection and repression. Coping strategies generally refer to conscious efforts to manage stress, emotional responses pertain to feelings that arise in reaction to stimuli, and behavioral patterns describe observable actions rather than the unconscious processes involved in defense mechanisms.