An investigation of projection and regression

Abstract

Projection was defined in terms of attributions made of a TAT respondent heard speaking on tape. The following predictions were made: (1) after their exposure to sexual stimuli high sex-guilt subjects would project more than subjects equal in sex-guilt who were not exposed to sexual stimuli; (2) after exposure to sexual stimuli high sex-guilt subjects given the opportunity to rate another person would report feeling more self-satisfaction at the end of the experiment than subjects equal in sex-guilt who were not allowed to rate another person; (3) high sex-guilt subjects exposed to sexual stimuli would project more to a criminal target than subjects low in sex-guilt, who were not exposed to the sexual stimuli, would project to a student target. Projection results revealed that exposure to the sexual stimuli did not influence how subjects rated the TAT respondent. Nonsignificant differences in self-attribution were found between subjects given the opportunity to rate another person and subjects not given this opportunity. The target effect, though statistically significant, was very weak in influencing the attributions made of another person. Regression was defined in terms of Rorschach responding. It was hypothesized that subjects informed by an experimenter that they had not performed well on a person-perception task would demonstrate more regression than subjects not given such failure feedback. Results revealed that failure and non-failure subjects did not differ in Rorschach responding. It is suggested that investigators interested in regression attempt to better delineate those conditions conducive to producing regression, while also developing more reliable and valid methods of measuring regression. To meaningfully investigate projection several criteria must be met. (1) An effective threat-inducing stimulus must be presented to the subject. (2) An individual difference measure must be included which will discriminate those subjects likely to project from those not likely to project. (3) A suitable target for the projection must be provided. (4) Pre-post anxiety measures must be included in the design.