#introjection

Harvey Havington (Bloodmoney!) userboxes

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I know a few of our non-introject parts have found success largely by fronting more often and noticing what they're drawn to. Personality quizzes—especially more "silly" ones—can be helpful too. What animals are they drawn to? What colors? What styles? Hobbies can help too.

It's also worth knowing that many people pick up traits from pieces of media they consume (even non-systems). Figuring out what characters a part is drawn to can make a part feel more "solid" in presentation/identity. This seems to be what you're describing, and it can absolutely be healthy to explore yourself (as a whole or as a part) through the lens of fiction. Just be careful with that if you're prone to psychosis.. /lighthearted

One thing that I've seen a few times as advice for this is to keep a journal of things you like/don't like, thoughts you have, etc. This can be helpful for both individual and collective identities. Journalling is a bit of a tired piece of advice, but there can definitely be some merit to it.

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To start us off, I want to explain first what introjection actually is! I think a lot of people forget what it means and what it refers to. So, in terms of psychology, introjection (or internalization) is an unconscious process. It's the process of internalising the thoughts or personality traits of others. It can be a normal part of a child's development, like when a child takes on parental values, attitudes, ideology, and such.

Introjection also works as a defence mechanism! They take the ideas, feelings, and/or attitudes of others and make that part of themself. Though it can be healthy, it can also be unhealthy; many may internalise negative or harmful beliefs. Introjection affects people's thoughts, too.

Introjection does not only apply to Dissociative Disorders! It's a process anyone can go through.

I see a lot of people talk about introjection online through the lens of introject alters, some I've seen have made it out as if only alter systems experience introjection; that's not quite right! While yes, introjects of people in our lives can exist, that's not all there is to introjection. It's not exclusive to CDDs.

Introjection is not the same as projection. While introjection is internalising those values, projection is where someone takes those internal beliefs and values and projects them onto external subjects. Projection can be a defense mechanism; used to expel and externalise those uncomfortable inner thoughts and feelings. Introjection is the opposite of projection.

Introjects are alters that hold onto those beliefs and values.

If they didn't introject those aspects, they wouldn't be considered introjects! Whether that be fictional or factual introjects, they need something to introject in order to be considered such. They need to have those compartmentalised aspects.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introjection

https://www.simplypsychology.org/introjection-defense-mechanism.html

https://www.therapytrainings.com/pages/blog/introjection-understanding-and-addressing-internalized-beliefs-in-therapy?srsltid=AfmBOor_G-r3tS3fxMg-DMAoUJ-QCTKvN7mLbd2jOZMmJQ7cpSFP7Kod

https://changingminds.org/disciplines/psychoanalysis/concepts/projection_introjection.htm

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/introjection

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/introjection

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