Which defense mechanism involves attributing one's own unacceptable feelings to another person?

The correct answer is projection, which is a defense mechanism where an individual unconsciously attributes their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or desires onto someone else. For example, if someone struggles with anger management but is unwilling to recognize their own feelings, they might perceive others as harboring anger towards them. This mechanism serves to protect the individual from acknowledging and confronting their own uncomfortable emotions, thereby allowing them to avoid personal accountability or self-reflection.

In contrast, repression involves unconsciously blocking out painful or distressing thoughts and memories from conscious awareness. Denial entails refusing to accept reality or facts that would cause distress. Displacement, on the other hand, is about redirecting emotional responses from the original object of those feelings to a safer or more acceptable target. Understanding these nuances helps clarify why projection specifically focuses on attributing one's own feelings to others.