38: Identification
Identification is the opposite of projection, and involves reacting to the emotions that others project.
Practiced to a healthy degree, identification is a method by which an individual develops, emulating the behavior of some and reacting to the behavior of others - but as a means of self-deception, the individual is not aware that he is modeling his behavior on others but feels it is an independent choice.
A classic example is the playground bully, who models the aggressive behavior of his own parent with those who he perceives to be weaker than himself, but becomes meek and submissive to anyone who seems stronger. These behaviors are not a result of rational or even conscious choice, but merely reactions.
The profession of acting, especially method acting, involves emulating the behavior of others. When people "act" in real life they may begin by consciously playing a role, but the behavior becomes unconscious and habitual - forming a part of their personality.
(EN: Of particular interest is observing the way that an individual in an emotionally intense situation emulates behavior without conscious choice - who recognizes in arrears to having behaved "just like my father" when they had become angry. It was not a conscious choice at a time, but a role they fell into by means of identification on an unconscious level.)
The author turns to Aristotle, who considered emulation to be a positive force for shaping the character of a man - provided he emulated proper behavior. A person who does the right thing even though he does not understand why it is the right thing is still ultimately doing the right thing, and he can figure out the reasons it is right at a later time when he reflects on his behavior.