In this episode, I interviews Dr. Michael Karson about how powerful role of projective identification impacts romantic relationships. We discuss why we project undesired parts of ourselves onto partners, how this shapes our interactions, and the importance of communication in breaking these patterns. We further explore, the influence of societal expectations on our personal connections, why we often fall in love with potential, the traps of idealizing partners, and practical steps to communicate more authentically. This conversation illuminates the complexities of love and the transformative power of open dialogue in creating fulfilling relationships.
SHOWNOTES -
00:00:00 - Episode and Show Introduction
00:01:00 - What is projective Identification?
00:02:55 - Recognising projection in relationships
00:06:55 - How projection impacts the identity of people involved
00:08:50 - How we choose our sexual & romantic partners
00:11:00 - Falling in love with potential
00:15:28 - Factors that lead to false expectations & projection
00:18:06 - Setting & communicating realistic expectations & boundaries
00:25:55 - Keeping relationships vibrant and engaging over time
00:31:28 - Being vulnerable & discussing sexual needs
00:37:38 - Impact of shifting Gender dynamics on relationships
00:43:50 - Recovering from dirty fights
00:45:50 - How therapy can help
00:48:30 - Individual clarity for the health of relationships
00:54:15 - Exercise to ensure the growth of your relationship
01:00:10 - When to walk away
CONNECT WITH Dr. MICHAEL KARSON -
Website - https://michaelkarson.com/
Dr. Karson's Blog on Psychplogy Today - https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/contributors/michael-karson-phd-jd
MORE RESOURCES -
EmoPersona Quiz - https://www.kratimehra.com/emopersonaquiz/
Newsletter - https://www.kratimehra.com/newsletter/
For more, visit - https://www.kratimehra.com/experible/
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.