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The Dating and Relationship Group:
Projection
Projection is an unconscious psychological process featured in all human relationships, including parent-child, sibling, friendship, professional and romantic relationships. Because projection is in the common parlance, it is generally misunderstood as something "bad" (e.g., "Don't project your own issues onto me!"). In actuality, projection is a complex relational strategy inspired by numerous motives including the need to feel understood, to be relieved of one's duress, and to create in the present relationship an enactment of a previous relationship.
In the next meeting of the Dating and Relationship Group on Saturday, April 2, 12:00 to 1:15 PM noon, I will unpack the notion of projection and characterize its numerous pathways. Projection will be approached as an unconscious strategy that manages how much we know, and allow ourselves to be known by, another person. Our discussion will focus on helping participants begin to gain an awareness of the nature of their own projections onto others, and how they are usually projected onto by others.
The dynamics of relationships are shaped by unconscious influences each person imparts on the other. They are bi-directional and mutually co-determined. The product of this "dance" is the emerging relationship culture which organizes relational roles and determines other factors such as power, control, vulnerability, and potential for intimacy. At the center of this relationship formation are "portals." Portals are the reception centers in the mind that determine the nature and magnitude of the influences one will accept from one's relationship partner.
In the next meeting of the Men's Group on Saturday, April 2, 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM noon, I will describe the significance of portals in communication and interpersonal dynamics. Few people are aware of their own portals, how they were formed, and to what extent these portals leave them vulnerable to receiving toxic influences from others. An important additional consideration is gaining a greater awareness of strategies for closing one's portals when the conditions warrant clear boundary-setting. Time in our meeting will also be devoted to participants' discussion of their own portal experiences.
To register for the April 2nd meetings of the Men's Group and the Dating and Relationship Group:
If you would like to attend the Men's Group (10:45 AM to 12:00 PM noon) and/or the Dating and Relationship Group (12:00 to 1:15 PM) on Saturday, April 2, please RSVP ASAP to Dr. Tobin at 949-338-4388 or [email protected]. There is a limit of 14 attendees for each group and registrants will be accommodated on a first-come/first-serve basis. The fee is $25.00 and the location is The Water Garden Business Center, 23421 South Pointe Drive, Suite 130, Laguna Hills, CA, 92653. Please note that these groups are educational in purpose, not therapeutic.
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