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Writer's pictureDeric Hollings

Confession Through Projection

 

I recall from the days when I was in elementary school, my older relatives who were black would sometimes greet one another with a raised fist. Also, when agreeing with a point expressed by someone, my relatives would raise a fist and declare, “Right on.”

 

Back then, I didn’t fully understand the meaning behind use of a raised fist. Nevertheless, I appreciated that it seemed to convey unity with and membership of an in-group.

 

In adolescence, I admired how Tommie Smith and John Carlos displayed the raised fist gesture in a photo from the 1968 Olympic Stadium in Mexico City. Often associated with the civil rights movement, one source states of Smith’s intentions regarding the pose:

 

In his autobiography, Silent Gesture, published nearly 30 years later, Smith declared that his gesture was not a “Black Power” salute per se, but rather a “human rights” salute. The demonstration has been called one of the most overtly political statements in the history of the modern Olympics.


 

In 1997, when assigned to the United States Army Military Police (MP) and Chemical School Training Center of Fort McClellan, Alabama as an adult, I graduated with members of MP Class 05-97. In the above photo, two MPs and I displayed the raised fist pose. According to one source:

 

The raised fist, or the clenched fist, is a long-standing image of mixed meaning, often a symbol of solidarity, especially with a political movement. It is a common symbol representing a wide range of political ideologies, most notably socialism, communism, anarchism, and trade unionism, and can also be used as a salute expressing unity, strength, or resistance.

 

Prior to posing for the MP photo, my buddies and I briefly discussed our intentions. We displayed the somewhat ambiguous gesture as a symbol of our commitment to stand against oppression and wrongdoing. As law-enforcers, we believed that was our duty.

 

Elaborating on the gesture, one source opines, “It’s a way of indicating that you intend to meet malevolent, massive institutional force with force of your own – you are an individual who feels bound with other individuals to fight an oppressive status quo.”

 

Retrospectively, I appreciate the irony of law enforcement officers (LEOs) believing they existed to combat oppression, as many people view law enforcement as an oppressive system rife with wrongdoing. While I don’t fully agree with this perspective, I do appreciate my intention underlying the MP photo.

 

In a blogpost entitled Human Fallibility, I stated of my graduate study experience between 2012 and 2014:

 

I was enamored with the rhetoric of el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz. Having been formally educated in social justice praxis, I even considered myself a “social justice warrior” (SJW). It was during the time while undergoing my social work education that I decided to display my faith for the cause in the form of a tattoo.

 

That tattoo was of a closed fist and is on the back of my right calf. No longer ignorant about the role of LEO by that point in my life, I wanted to commemorate the raised fist in regard to human rights. The quote accompanying my tattoo is, “No one is free when others are oppressed.”

 

Depending on what area of the U.S. I’m in when people see my tattoo, I’ve discovered that people project upon my ink whatever predetermined conclusions they maintain. Regarding the Freudian concept of psychological projection, one source states:

 

Psychological projection is a defense mechanism of alterity concerning “inside” content mistaken to be coming from the “outside” Other. It forms the basis of empathy by the projection of personal experiences to understand someone else’s subjective world. In its malignant forms, it is a defense mechanism in which the ego defends itself against disowned and highly negative parts of the self by denying their existence in themselves and attributing them to others, breeding misunderstanding and causing untold interpersonal damage.

 

Living in Austin, Texas, I’ve received many compliments regarding my tattoo. On two separate occasions, people have asked if they could take a photo of my calf, presumably to post somewhere on social media.

 

Traveling in other parts of Texas, the reception to a commemorated closed fist hasn’t been as warm. One imagines people project meaning upon the tattoo that relates to a communist red salute, the Black Lives Matter movement, Antifa, or other plausible representations.

 

No longer allied with SJW causes, I retain appreciation for what I now understand the raised fist likely meant to black relatives from my youth. It’s an expression of solidarity. Likewise, I value my intentions from MP school. It represents the struggle against oppression and injustice.

 

With this sociopolitical framework in mind, I now turn toward July 13, 2024, a day on which Donald Trump was injured in a failed assassination attempt. In video footage of the event, Trump can be seen raising his fist in the air and apparently telling the crowd to “fight” after having been shot. Describing the matter, one source states:

 

Since public appearances by Trump typically draw mixed crowds of supporters and detractors, his use of a raised fist provides a potent message for both groups. It can function as a gesture of solidarity for those who are with him, and one of defiance against those who oppose him. In this way, Trump’s raised fist is like a Rorschach inkblot, since it allows people to interpret his message according to their own ideological preferences.

 

The Rorschach test mentioned by the source is a projective assessment tool common of psychoanalytic practice. According to the Texas Administrative Code:

 

In accordance with the §503.003(b)(1) of the Act, the use of standardized projective techniques is prohibited. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, the Rorschach Inkblot Test, the Holtzman Inkblot Test, the Thematic Apperception Test, the Children's Apperception Test, and the Senior Apperception Test.

 

One reason these projective assessment measures aren’t permitted by professional counselors practicing in the State of Texas is because, as suggested in the aforementioned source, projection is subject to interpretation. Essentially, a person sees what they’re biased toward seeing, not necessarily what simply is.

 

Per one source, “Trump raised his fist and projected a characteristic image of defiance.” This description comports with other descriptions of the raised fist pose referenced herein. However, a separate source used the antithesis of meaning regarding the gesture by declaring:

 

We need to take another message from this tragedy that goes beyond raised fists. The message that should be clear and immediate is this: We live in a country with too many guns, with too much easy access to firearms and far too much violence.

 

This irrational form of projection is often trotted out whenever events involving gun violence are popularized within the U.S. By “irrational,” I’m referring to that which doesn’t comport with logic and reason. To better understand this anti-gun argument, consider the following syllogism:

 

Form –

If p, then q; if q, then r; therefore, if p, then r.

 

Example –

If a would-be assassin attempts to murder a former U.S. president with a rifle, then the government should deprive lawful gun owners of access to firearms.

 

If the government should deprive lawful gun owners of access to firearms, then snipers who lawfully carry out their duties by killing would-be assassins through use of rifles should be disarmed.

 

Therefore, if a would-be assassin attempts to murder a former U.S. president with a rifle, then snipers who lawfully carry out their duties by killing would-be assassins through use of rifles should be disarmed.

 

Although the proposal is syllogistically logical, it isn’t reasonable. Moreover, if lawful use of firearms is a method of stopping violent and unlawful use of firearms, then snipers or other governmental authorities (i.e., LEOs) aren’t the sole entities worthy of self-defense or defense of others through use of firearms.

 

This isn’t advanced logic. In any case, I suspect people who irrationally and emotively cling to anti-gun arguments when faced with truthful and realistic scenarios – such as Trump ostensibly being saved from a rifle-wielding sniper – have committed the act of confession through projection.

 

According to one source, “Confession through projection” represents a “total lack of self-awareness that would be funny if it weren’t so sad.” I first heard this phrase from Viva Frei.

 

In the case of irrational gun control described herein, the aforementioned source apparently advocates oppressive gun-grabbing when the raised fist by Trump symbolizes defiance against tyrannical oppression. These two positions are at odds with one another.

 

One doesn’t have to be politically active in order to understand how a confession through projection-type of action regarding this anti-Second Amendment variety isn’t constitutional. Thus, I defiantly raise my fist in alignment with the Stoic virtue of justice against oppression. Right on!

 

If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

 

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

 

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!

 

 

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

 

References:

 

ABC News. (2024, July 14). Video shows moment of Trump assassination attempt at rally [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/LAk6dXEzIUo?si=vX4Pem8ZuNfqqUCY

Anderson, M. (2024, July 14). The man killed in the assassination attempt on Trump died shielding his family. NPR. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2024/07/14/nx-s1-5039293/corey-comperatore-man-killed-in-trump-assassination-attempt

Colvin, J. (2024, July 15). Amid chaos and gunfire, Trump raised his fist and projected a characteristic image of defiance. The Associated Press. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-image-photo-fight-5ede33e665f2af78de737084b37adcf9

Crawford, M. (2021, November 17). The art of gaslighting: Confession through projection. Rounding the Earth. Retrieved from https://roundingtheearth.substack.com/p/the-art-of-gaslighting-confession

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

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Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2022, November 4). Human fallibility. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/human-fallibility

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Lived experience. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/lived-experience

Hollings, D. (2023, January 8). Logic and reason. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/logic-and-reason

Hollings, D. (2022, October 22). On empathy. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-empathy

Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings

Hollings, D. (2023, April 24). On truth. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-truth

Hollings, D. (2024, June 16). On virtue. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-virtue

Hollings, D. (2022, October 7). Should, must, and ought. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/should-must-and-ought

Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Stoicism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stoicism

Hollings, D. (2023, October 17). Syllogism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/syllogism

Hollings, D. (2024, July 5). The influence of ATLiens. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-influence-of-atliens

Hollings, D. (2022, August 8). Was Freud right? Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/was-freud-right

Kamali, S. (2021, April 5). Malcolm X: Why el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz matters. The Revealer. Retrieved from https://therevealer.org/malcolm-x-why-el-hajj-malik-el-shabazz-matters/

Kelly, J. (2012, April 17). Breivik: What’s behind clenched-fist salutes? BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17739105

Kreuz, R. J. (2024, July 14). Trump’s raised fist is a go-to gesture with a long history of different meanings. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/trumps-raised-fist-is-a-go-to-gesture-with-a-long-history-of-different-meanings-232382

Norris, M. L. (2024, July 16). Opinion: No more talk of miracles, please. It’s time to talk about guns. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/16/trump-fist-miracle-scott-guns/

Texas Administrative Code. Rule §681.43 – Testing. Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Retrieved from https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=22&pt=30&ch=681&rl=43

Viva Frei [@thevivafrei]. (n.d.). Viva Frei [Official X profile]. X. Retrieved from https://x.com/thevivafrei

Wikipedia. (n.d.). 1968 Olympics Black Power salute. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Antifa (Germany). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifa_(Germany)

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Black Lives Matter. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Lives_Matter

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Civil rights movement. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_rights_movement

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Donald Trump. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump

Wikipedia. (n.d.). In-group and out-group. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-group_and_out-group

Wikipedia. (n.d.). John Carlos. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Carlos

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Psychological projection. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Raised fist. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raised_fist

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Rorschach test. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorschach_test

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Tommie Smith. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommie_Smith

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