Which defense mechanism involves attributing personal feelings or motives to others?

The correct answer is projection. This defense mechanism involves an individual attributing their own unwanted feelings, thoughts, or motives onto someone else. For example, if a person is feeling angry but cannot acknowledge that feeling, they might accuse others of being angry instead. This allows the individual to avoid confronting their own feelings while still expressing the emotional content, albeit indirectly.

In contrast, denial is about refusing to accept reality or facts; regression involves reverting to an earlier stage of development in response to stress; and displacement entails shifting feelings from one target to a less threatening one. Each of these mechanisms serves a different purpose in helping individuals cope with difficult emotions or situations, but only projection specifically focuses on externalizing one’s own inner experiences by attributing them to others.