Health psychology/Defence mechanisms · Neurotic

Identification

What it means

Modelling oneself on another person, often one perceived as powerful (including an aggressor).

Worked example

An abused child later adopts the behaviours of the abuser ("identification with the aggressor").

In the exam

A boy who is bullied at home begins, over months, to imitate the bully’s mannerisms and intimidate smaller children himself.

What settles it

Identification models oneself on another (taking on their role/behaviour). Introjection takes the other’s values/attributes INTO the self as one’s own.

Classically confused with

Introjection

Source: AMBOSS