Projection is one of the most common defense mechanisms. It is an interesting defense mechanism, because it creates an irrational sense of winning as a person will blame their adversary for behaviors they are currently using. This technique is almost the same as the game "shotgun" when trying to get the front seat of the car. As long as a person claims the other person is displaying bad behaviors first, then they are winning the issue at hand.
Projection: Projection is the misattribution of a person’s undesired thoughts, feelings or impulses onto another person who does not have those thoughts, feelings or impulses. Projection is used especially when the thoughts are considered unacceptable for the person to express, or they feel completely ill at ease with having them. For example, a spouse may be angry at their significant other for not listening, when in fact it is the angry spouse who does not listen. Projection is often the result of a lack of insight and acknowledgement of one’s own motivations and feelings. (http://psychcentral.com/lib/15-common-defense-mechanisms/)
Have you ever had a friend who accuses everyone of being extremely hostile to them, but then is extremely hostile when they are making this claim? This is a form of projection, as it helps to make their behavior more rational in their own head, and levels the playing field as it makes everyone sound as crazy as they are acting. Now that person feels it is okay to be hostile to the others, because in their mind they are just responding to what the other people are doing. Of course there are a couple of flaws here, such as the people weren't being hostile and two wrongs don't make a right. However, it is difficult to point these ideas out as the person has already made the situation rational in their head, and therefore it is usually the correct way to handle the situation.
Projection in MLM is BAD!!! MLMers project ill will all the time, and then they rationalize it with a higher sense of morality with their relationship to god and the business. MLMers condemn others who are not in the business by suggesting their life is lacking in different areas. These areas may include, not spending enough time with their kids, working for a boss, working a job, not making enough money. Let's take a moment to unravel some of these projections, as the MLMer uses this technique to gain a mentally superior ground in their pitch for the business.
MLMers and their projections:
1. Non-MLMers don't spend enough time with their kids. This blanket statement as a whole can't have any weight, because there are plenty of people who have successful careers and are able to take vacations with their kids, have a parent stay home with the kids, work from home and be with the kids, or any combination of the above. To make a statement such as, non-MLMers don't spend enough of time with their kids is ridiculous, because the MLMers really don't know that information. Do MLMers spend more time with their kids? According to most former MLMers the answer is no, and in the book Merchants of Deception, you get to see first hand as an Emerald from Amway is dragged into the ground working countless hours trying to make his business profitable. Yet, that is just one example. Many former MLMers talk about watching as their friends make Facebook posts or other claims in person, yet in actuality are not available because of the amount of time spent at meetings and parties or showing their plans.
2. Non-MLMers are working for a boss. Maybe some, but certainly not all of them. Also, what is wrong with working for a boss? Many people don't want to be a boss and take on that extra responsibility. It is nice to not be held accountable for your team's performance, and some people strive by focusing on themselves rather than making sure a team below them is doing their work. Are MLMers actually their own boss? In short, no, nah, no way, absolutely not. They have no control over how the products are distributed, how they are marketed, how they are tested, or anything that involves the business other than getting new recruits. They are glorified salespersons being pumped full of hopes and promises. The biggest reason for why they aren't their own bosses is, they can be fired from the MLM at any time if they break the rules.
3. Non-MLMers are working a J-O-B. When was this such a crime? For that matter, when did we strive to not participate in society by producing fruitful labor? This is one of the weirdest projections, and of course being in an MLM is a J-O-B. Not punching a time card does not mean you aren't working a job. If you are trading your hours for income, then you are performing a job.
4. Non-MLMers don't make enough money. Well, they can't do worse than being in an MLM, because MLMers, according to the income disclosures of their companies, average far below poverty wages for over 90% of the members of the company, and after expenses are primarily in the red. It is only a select few at the top who are taking home any wages at all. Being a fry cook at McDonald's or a greeter at Walmart will have a better bottom line than more than 90% of the people involved in MLM.
As you can see, many of these common projections are riddled with fallacies. Yet, they keep getting repeated because they have rationalized the projections after they are continuously repeated. It is time to break this projection cycle, and end the game of, "Nuh uh! I said it first!"
Projection: Projection is the misattribution of a person’s undesired thoughts, feelings or impulses onto another person who does not have those thoughts, feelings or impulses. Projection is used especially when the thoughts are considered unacceptable for the person to express, or they feel completely ill at ease with having them. For example, a spouse may be angry at their significant other for not listening, when in fact it is the angry spouse who does not listen. Projection is often the result of a lack of insight and acknowledgement of one’s own motivations and feelings. (http://psychcentral.com/lib/15-common-defense-mechanisms/)
Have you ever had a friend who accuses everyone of being extremely hostile to them, but then is extremely hostile when they are making this claim? This is a form of projection, as it helps to make their behavior more rational in their own head, and levels the playing field as it makes everyone sound as crazy as they are acting. Now that person feels it is okay to be hostile to the others, because in their mind they are just responding to what the other people are doing. Of course there are a couple of flaws here, such as the people weren't being hostile and two wrongs don't make a right. However, it is difficult to point these ideas out as the person has already made the situation rational in their head, and therefore it is usually the correct way to handle the situation.
Projection in MLM is BAD!!! MLMers project ill will all the time, and then they rationalize it with a higher sense of morality with their relationship to god and the business. MLMers condemn others who are not in the business by suggesting their life is lacking in different areas. These areas may include, not spending enough time with their kids, working for a boss, working a job, not making enough money. Let's take a moment to unravel some of these projections, as the MLMer uses this technique to gain a mentally superior ground in their pitch for the business.
MLMers and their projections:
1. Non-MLMers don't spend enough time with their kids. This blanket statement as a whole can't have any weight, because there are plenty of people who have successful careers and are able to take vacations with their kids, have a parent stay home with the kids, work from home and be with the kids, or any combination of the above. To make a statement such as, non-MLMers don't spend enough of time with their kids is ridiculous, because the MLMers really don't know that information. Do MLMers spend more time with their kids? According to most former MLMers the answer is no, and in the book Merchants of Deception, you get to see first hand as an Emerald from Amway is dragged into the ground working countless hours trying to make his business profitable. Yet, that is just one example. Many former MLMers talk about watching as their friends make Facebook posts or other claims in person, yet in actuality are not available because of the amount of time spent at meetings and parties or showing their plans.
2. Non-MLMers are working for a boss. Maybe some, but certainly not all of them. Also, what is wrong with working for a boss? Many people don't want to be a boss and take on that extra responsibility. It is nice to not be held accountable for your team's performance, and some people strive by focusing on themselves rather than making sure a team below them is doing their work. Are MLMers actually their own boss? In short, no, nah, no way, absolutely not. They have no control over how the products are distributed, how they are marketed, how they are tested, or anything that involves the business other than getting new recruits. They are glorified salespersons being pumped full of hopes and promises. The biggest reason for why they aren't their own bosses is, they can be fired from the MLM at any time if they break the rules.
3. Non-MLMers are working a J-O-B. When was this such a crime? For that matter, when did we strive to not participate in society by producing fruitful labor? This is one of the weirdest projections, and of course being in an MLM is a J-O-B. Not punching a time card does not mean you aren't working a job. If you are trading your hours for income, then you are performing a job.
4. Non-MLMers don't make enough money. Well, they can't do worse than being in an MLM, because MLMers, according to the income disclosures of their companies, average far below poverty wages for over 90% of the members of the company, and after expenses are primarily in the red. It is only a select few at the top who are taking home any wages at all. Being a fry cook at McDonald's or a greeter at Walmart will have a better bottom line than more than 90% of the people involved in MLM.
As you can see, many of these common projections are riddled with fallacies. Yet, they keep getting repeated because they have rationalized the projections after they are continuously repeated. It is time to break this projection cycle, and end the game of, "Nuh uh! I said it first!"
Good post. What many Amwayers don't see is that they are what they accuse others of being. They are taught by upline to ignore their own obvious flaws. Sadly, my former sponsor probably missed much of his kids growing up as he was blindly sold out to Amway and WWDB. To sum it up, Amway becomes a waste of your life if you're in it long enough.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Nothing is more frustrating than watching people waste their time and money!
Delete