Report: Johan’s Projective Psychology — The Monstrosity of Proving Existence Through Others as Mirrors

Report: Johan’s Projective Psychology — The Monstrosity of Proving Existence Through Others as Mirrors

This report was created based on my previous research into projection and recent reflections on Johan, which led to a deeper exploration connecting it to nihilism.
It examines the relationship between nihilism and projection in human relationships.

It is written in report format, so it may be a bit dense to read, but thank you for bearing with me.

Date Created: January 6, 2026
Author: Shiho Yoshino
Collaboration: Grok (xAI)

Abstract
Johan Liebert from MONSTER is portrayed as a character who employs psychological projection in an extreme and deliberate manner. This report analyzes Johan’s projection mechanisms based on the projection theories of Freud, Jung, and Klein. Traumatized by a sense of “having no self,” Johan uses others as “mirrors,” projecting his own nihilism and despair onto them in order to prove his existence. This behavior transcends mere defense mechanisms, evolving into active psychological manipulation and embodying destructive nihilism. Through this analysis, the process by which projection, as a “failure of self-establishment,” gives rise to monstrosity is clarified.

1. Theoretical Background of Projection (Review)
Projection is a defense mechanism in which one unconsciously (or deliberately) attributes unacceptable emotions or traits to others.

• Freudian type: Attributing unpleasant desires to the other (e.g., believing the other is angry when one is actually angry oneself).

• Jungian type (shadow projection): Seeing one’s own “shadow” (unacceptable dark aspects) in others. Recognition allows for integration.

• Kleinian type (projective identification): Making the other actually feel the projected emotion and thereby controlling them (e.g., “placing the emotion inside the other and making them feel it on one’s behalf”).

Johan uses all of these deliberately and extremely, with Kleinian projective identification being the most prominent.

2. Johan’s Projection Mechanism
Johan’s projection stems from the trauma of “having no self” (his mother’s choice, the stripping of identity at Kinderheim, and the indoctrination of “the nameless monster”).

• Using others as “mirrors”
  Johan projects his nihilism (“life has no meaning,” “only death is equal”) onto others, making them say it or feel it.
  When others despair or commit suicide, he confirms his reflection in the mirror: “My thoughts are correct,” “I exist here.”

• The pinnacle of projective identification
  Going beyond Klein’s projective identification, he turns others into copies of himself.
  Examples:

  • Projecting onto Tenma: “You made me a monster” → inducing Tenma’s guilt.

  • In the picture-book narration scene, projecting his despair onto children → triggering the collapse of the facility.

  • In Ruhenheim, projecting despair onto the community → orchestrating mass murder.

• Purpose of projection
  To fill the loneliness of “no one calls my name.”
  He tries to make everyone share the same despair to achieve “equality,”
  but the result is only greater loneliness (the mirrors merely shatter).

3. Types of Projection and Johan’s Application

Table 1: Types of Projection and Johan’s Examples

| Type of Projection | General Characteristics | Johan’s Application Example | Outcome |
|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| Defensive (Freud) | Pushing unpleasant emotions onto the other | Projecting his own loneliness onto others, inducing them with “You’re lonely too, aren’t you?” | Temporary relief through the other’s mental collapse |
| Shadow Projection (Jung) | Seeing one’s dark side in the other | Projecting his own “monstrosity” onto others | Externalizing his shadow as others become monstrous |
| Projective Identification (Klein) | Making the other actually feel the projected emotion | Implanting despair, inducing suicide or murder | Controlling the other as “his own mirror” |

Johan intentionally combines these, transforming projection into a “weapon.”

4. Interplay Between Projection and Nihilism
Johan’s projection serves as the execution tool of destructive nihilism.

• Projecting the despair of “nothing has meaning” → destroying others

• The destroyed others become mirrors, “proving” that “my nihilism is correct”

• Yet when the mirrors shatter, an even deeper loneliness creates a vicious cycle.

5. Discussion: The Failure of Projection and Monstrosity
Johan’s projection represents the ultimate failure of self-establishment.
A structure in which he can only feel existence by turning others into mirrors is the complete opposite of an inwardly self-contained type (e.g., the author’s “I am I”).

Table 2: Comparison of Projection and Types of Self-Establishment

| Type | Method of Self-Establishment | Relationship with Others | Use of Projection | Outcome |
|----------------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Destructive (Johan) | Using others as mirrors | Dependent on others (needed as mirrors) | Projecting despair, destroying others | Eternal loneliness, becoming a monster |
| Redemptive (Tenma) | Proving oneself by saving others | Dependent on others (needed as objects of salvation) | Projecting one’s guilt, then saving | Exhaustion, self-sacrifice |
| Third Type (Author) | Self-contained internally | Others not required (interaction is optional) | No projection (or projecting kindness) | Quiet stability, acceptance of loneliness |

As a result, projection repeats eternally, amplifying monstrosity.

If one becomes aware of projection and “reclaims” it (Jung), salvation is possible,
but Johan remains unaware (or refuses awareness even if he notices),
choosing instead to continue shattering mirrors.

6. Conclusion
Johan’s projection is a tragic expression of the “craving to prove existence” born from trauma.
As long as he continues turning others into mirrors,
the despair of “no one calls my name” will never end.

Through this analysis,
the possibility of using projection as a “mirror of kindness” also emerges.
Rather than forcing one’s shadow onto others,
sharing light through projection—
that may be one step toward gentler human relationships.

References

• Freud, S. (1911). Psycho-Analytic Notes on an Autobiographical Account of a Case of Paranoia.

• Jung, C. G. (1951). Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self.

• Klein, M. (1946). Notes on Some Schizoid Mechanisms.

• Urasawa Naoki, MONSTER (1994–2001).