Episode 11: “How one becomes what one is.” – On the False Self
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Apr 23, 2021
Exploring the concept of the false self and its impact on identity, the importance of parental support, and how highly sensitive children develop a false self. Also delving into the true self, the struggles of constructing an authentic identity, and the role of psychotherapy in unveiling the true self.
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insights INSIGHT
True Self Reveals Itself
The true self resists being forced into visibility and reveals itself on its own terms.
Therapy's role is to create safety for the self to emerge rather than to extract it forcefully.
insights INSIGHT
Online Culture and Authenticity
Social media amplifies the cultural demand to 'be yourself' while many still hide essential parts of identity.
Coming-out videos resonate because they mirror a broader longing for authentic self-revelation.
insights INSIGHT
Spectrum Of True And False Self
Winnicott locates the true and false self on a spectrum where everyone uses a mask to function socially.
Extreme false self development can lead to alienation, unhappiness, and illness.
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Summary:
We all wear masks from time to time: at work, in front of our friends, sometimes even—or perhaps especially—within our family and in front of our partners. But there are people who find it difficult to ever take off this mask, who may not even know what their face would look like underneath. This episode deals with such questions of identity and the influential concept of the false self.
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Lives of the Unconscious. A Podcast on Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy