ABSTRACT
The process of introjection can be described in simple terms as swallowing messages whole from the environment and emerged from Fritz Perls’ interest in the development of dental aggression. Perls considered that when the infant cuts teeth choice increases as chewing over what enters the body becomes possible, the infant can chew over material before swallowing or reject it. In gestalt therapists work let us not forget that this process of introjection will have originally been a developmental manoeuvre to ensure safety or acceptance and was the best way of creatively adjusting to the environment at the time. The process of introjection often occurs out of awareness in response to stereotyping.
