Meanings
present singular third person introjects · participle present introjecting · participle past introjected · past introjected
- human sciencesTo unconsciously incorporate into one's psyche.
1 more example
Sometimes the attempt was made to reduce the inner to the outer world (Condillac, Mach, Avenarius, materialism); sometimes the outer to the inner world (Descartes, Berkeley, Fichte); sometimes the sphere of the absolute to the others (e.g., by trying to infer causally the essence and existence of something divine in general); […]; sometimes the general differentiation of subject and object to pregivenness of the co- or 'fellow-man', to whom an environmental element—as, for instance, 'this tree' — is supposed to be introjected, followed by subsequent introjection by the observer to himself (Avenarius); sometimes one's own body to a merely associative coordination of the self-perception of the own self and organ sensations with the own body as perceived from outside.
2014, Volker Meja, Nico Stehr, Knowledge and Politics - broadlymultiplicity slangTo form a headmate from details from another source.
plural introjects
- human sciencesAn element of another person that is unconsciously incorporated into one's psyche.
When introjects are weak (or even absent), an anaclitic personality configuration results, characterized by dependency, insecurity, and feelings of helplessness and emptiness.
2003, Theodore Millon, Melvin J. Lerner, Irving B. Weiner, Handbook of Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology, page 1231 more example
Repetitious comments are other examples of introjects that we take on as if they were truths. These include: You're lazy; you're selfish; you'll never amount to anything; […]
2015, Janet S. Steinwedel, The Golden Key to Executive Coaching - broadlymultiplicity slangA headmate who is in some way from another source.
Origin
Back-formation from introjection.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French introjeter
- introjeterunconsciously incorporate into the psyche
Italian introiettare
- introiettareunconsciously incorporate into the psyche
Cite this entry
introject. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/introject
“introject.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/introject. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “introject,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/introject.
Source: introject on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.