Final answer:
Projection is a defense mechanism where people project their own unconscious feelings onto others. It can occur when individuals are unable to acknowledge their own emotions and instead attribute them to someone else. To combat projection, self-awareness and introspection are key.
Step-by-step explanation:
When people project onto others imaginary traits that are remnants from previous relationships, it is a form of defense mechanism called projection. Projection occurs when an individual refuses to acknowledge their own unconscious feelings and instead sees those feelings in someone else.
For example, if someone had a negative experience with an authority figure in the past, they may project their fears and anxieties onto a new authority figure in their life, assuming the worst intentions and traits in that person. This projection is based on their previous relationship and the emotions associated with it, rather than objective evidence or observation of the current person's behavior.