Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Couples addressing marital problems often engage in projection and displacement as common defense mechanisms.

Projection involves attributing one's own unacceptable feelings, thoughts, or motives to another person. In the context of a marital relationship, one partner might project their insecurities or frustrations onto the other, interpreting their partner's actions through the lens of their own emotions. For instance, if one partner feels inadequate, they might accuse the other of being critical or unsupportive, which can lead to misunderstanding and conflict.

Displacement, on the other hand, occurs when an individual redirects emotions from a real source of distress to a safer outlet. For example, a spouse may feel anger towards their partner but may express this anger instead towards a friend or a household item. This can happen when the couple faces unresolved issues and instead of addressing these directly, they may take out their frustrations inappropriately by projecting their feelings onto different targets.

The chosen defenses—projection and displacement—are commonly observed in couples therapy as partners navigate their emotional responses and relational dynamics, helping therapists understand the underlying issues affecting the marital relationship.