False projection makes the world appear as destructive allegories

Evidence

The compulsively projecting self can project only its own unhappiness—from the very basis of which it is cut off by reason of its lack of reflective thought. The products of false projection, the stereotype is of thought and reality, are therefore the products of evil. For the ego which sinks into the meaningless abyss of itself, objects become allegories of destruction which contain the meaning of its own downfall. — Theodor W. Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment, 151

Categorization

• DEEPTHINKING: The claim that the projecting self can only project its own unhappiness, and that the world then appears as allegories of its own downfall, is a dense, paradigm-level observation about the reciprocity of projection and perception.
• DEFINE: Defines ‘false projection’ — the anti-Semitic mechanism that stereotypes thought and reality alike as products of evil.
• XREF: connects to: Realism is a form of paranoia that dehumanizes both nature and peoples — Theodor W. Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment, 153; Projection converts taboo inner impulses into perceived external enemies — Theodor W. Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment, 152; Projection lets prejudiced people condemn in outgroups the traits they secretly possess — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 2345 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Projection converts taboo inner impulses into perceived external enemies #expands (0.80) — Theodor W. Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment, 152
• Projection lets prejudiced people condemn in outgroups the traits they secretly possess #expands (0.78) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2345
• Eliminating the image-reality distinction can produce collective lunacy. #corroborates (0.72)