Prejudice research abandoned projection theory for decades before reviving it

Evidence

Allport (after Ackerman & Jahoda, 1950) proposed that groups of people can become “living inkblots” (1954/1979, p. 385) onto whom others can project their own fears, frustrations, and perceived inadequacies. A compelling idea, it nonetheless did not play a major role in the subsequent history of research on stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. In recent years, interest in the psychodynamic approach, broadly defined, has made a comeback, as has interest in defensive projection in particular. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2379

Categorization

• CANDY: The ‘living inkblots’ concept is a fun, tweetable image of how prejudiced minds work.