Hal is fearful of men who are friendly toward him, convinced that they are all homosexuals attempting to seduce him. Should it be the case that Hal is himself a latent homosexual, fearful of admitting this even to himself, we might conclude that he is using the defense mechanisms of repression and

Question

Hal is fearful of men who are friendly toward him, convinced that they are all homosexuals attempting to seduce him. Should it be the case that Hal is himself a latent homosexual, fearful of admitting this even to himself, we might conclude that he is using the defense mechanisms of repression and ​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hal's behavior is an example of projection, where he attributes his own unacceptable feelings or desires to others. In this case, he projects his own feared homosexual desires onto other men, interpreting their friendliness as attempts at seduction.

Hal Is Fearful of Men Who Are Friendly Toward Him