Follow TV Tropes

Trope Finder

Go To

The TVTropes Trope Finder is where you can come to ask questions like "Do we have this one?" and "What's the trope about...?" Trying to rediscover a long lost show or other medium but need a little help? Head to Media Finder and try your luck there. Want to propose a new trope? You should be over at You Know, That Thing Where.

Find a Trope:

Describe the Trope:


Ner0014reN Since: Aug, 2023
13th May, 2024 10:36:24 AM

Psychological Projection is broader than just "everyone thinks and acts like me"

Chabal2 Since: Jan, 2010
13th May, 2024 10:48:17 PM

From the description: "a character projects their own character traits, emotions, or desires to another character by presuming they feel or think the same as they".

This would be for a character lacking those traits but still ascribing them to the other person, based on their own prejudices.

For instance, Bob is English and very generous with his money. But he believes the Thrifty Scot trope is an accurate reflection of reality, and so is amazed to find out that his Scottish friend Alice actually gives her employees regular raises.

Ner0014reN Since: Aug, 2023
14th May, 2024 05:59:52 AM

Perhaps I should correct myself: Psychological Projection's name is broader than just "everyone thinks and acts like me"

But okay, I do know the correct term for your question: Stereotyping

Scorpion451 (Edited uphill both ways)
14th May, 2024 09:05:05 AM

The "This is usually done unconsciously and never explicitly stated by the character, which can make it hard to notice. But if a character presumes something about another without having any reasons to think so and the presumption has something in common with themselves, they are probably projecting." part is also important in this.

Sometimes the projection can be more subtle- Say, in the second example, Carl is an engineer and on the weekends he's building Homemade Inventions; he can't imagine someone's job not being the center of their entire life.

Veanne Since: Jul, 2012
14th May, 2024 09:10:31 AM

Start on Stereotype and move from there? If a character has trouble imagining other people are not like them, that's immaturity, so Manchild maybe?

Edited by Veanne
Top