Read People Like a Book: How to Analyze, Understand, and Predict People’s Emotions, Thoughts, Intentions, and Behaviors

“actions speak louder than words”

Projection is a defense mechanism that can cause considerable damage and chaos if not understood for what it is. In this case, we place unwanted and unclaimed feelings onto someone or something else rather than seeing that they are a part of ourselves. We do not recognize our own “dark side” and project it onto others, blaming them for our shortcomings or seeing our flaws in their actions.

Even the least emotionally and socially intelligent people can learn something about other people if they engage with them long enough.

denial and rationalization.

dark exists because of light

we look for patterns.

People work harder to avoid pain than to get pleasure.

Feeling suddenly angry, hurt, defensive, or offended could be a clue that some nerve has been touched.

When you speak to someone, the shadow model helps you to speak to all of them, even the parts they don’t show. It’s a way of “reading between the lines” where people are concerned!

The next time you meet someone, quickly run through the following questions to help you see them on a deeper level:

What is this person actively and consciously portraying to me right now?
What might this person be unwilling to acknowledge about themselves?
How might this unacknowledged part of themselves be unconsciously driving the behavior I see on the surface?
How is this person making me feel right now? Do I feel like they are projecting onto me or triggering my own shadow?
How can I communicate compassion and understanding for what’s in their shadow, right now?