False Self Research Articles

Философское мышление на пути к свободе

The article considers one of the ways to achieve philosophical truth – the inner freedom of the subject. The doctrines of evolutionary epistemology and radical constructivism equate thinking with a means of adaptation. The best thinking is the one, thanks to which the organism survives and leaves maximum offspring. Freedom of thinking in such doctrines is absent, it is determined by the brain and its adaptive tasks. However, at a higher level of analyzing the human personality, one can speak of freedom. Heidegger establishes an inseparable connection be­tween freedom and truth: freedom is “letting beings be”. Only by letting this the cognizing subject can adequately cognize. This requires the renunciation of power, of mastery over the world, of its use as an instrument. Marion argues similarly in the doctrine of the saturated phenomenon. However, this kind of freedom can be called external. The notion of inner freedom is introduced. It is also inseparable from truth, and is now the truth of self-knowledge. Self-knowledge requires non-trivial approaches, as psychoanalysis has shown. The ar­ticle discusses the teaching of D. Winnicott on the true and false self and the theory of E. Ghent of “surrender”. The greatest obstacle to self-knowledge, according to Ghent and other theorists, are psychological defense barriers. They allow us to displace thoughts about ourselves that are unpleasant to us and undermine our self-confidence. In doing so, we alienate ourselves from our true Self. Ghent’s theory of “surrender” describes the breaking down of defense barriers and the in­ner liberation of the Self. Outwardly and inwardly free philosophical thinking is not the proof of a pre-known truth, but wandering (Heidegger). Genuine philo­sophical questioning does not know in advance where it will arrive, but on the way of wandering in a contemplative state it analyzes what is revealed to it

An Object-Relations Analysis of Psalm 131

Psalm 131 employs the metaphorical imagery of an infant and mother to portray the relationship between the psalmist and YHWH. Since this imagery is critical in understanding the psalmist and the overall message of the psalm, I utilize psychoanalytical Object-Relations theory in reading the psalm. This interpretive framework offers insights into the language, structure, and movement of the psalm that might otherwise be overlooked. This essay reveals the foundational role of YHWH, particularly in relation to his absence and presence as primary caregiver in the development of the false self and the restoration of the true self-identity of the psalmist. The restoration of the psalmist’s true self-identity is further supported by the larger canonical context in which the Torah of Psalm 119 functions as an object-relations transitional object for the psalmist.

Why we need to talk about Bruno... attachment perspectives on Encanto and the problem with burying grief

This article examines themes of intergenerational trauma in the Disney film Encanto, and the relevance these themes might have for therapists working with those who suffer from intergenerational trauma. The film centres on the Madrigal family, a Columbian family who live in an unnamed village in an enchanted house, having been forced to move to flee violence. Members of the Madrigal family have special gifts. However, there is one member of the family, Mirabel, who does not appear to have a gift. It is Mirabel who notices the cracks in the foundations of the house (a metaphor for her family and their lives), and despite feeling inferior and different to her siblings and cousins is able to investigate further. She challenges the family culture, and goes in search of the mysterious Uncle Bruno. She then gathers the strength to embrace her sister with whom she had a conflicted relationship, and finally confronts her grandmother and the impact of her unresolved trauma. Drawing from Winnicott's concept of "false self", Bowlby's understanding of the impact of loss, and Herman's notions concerning the role of community in healing from trauma, inferences are made about the implications of these themes for therapeutic work.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SELF AND BURNOUT IN TEACHERS

The objective of this research was to understand whether there is a relationship between burnout syndrome and the false self, described by Winnicott in his studies on primitive emotional development. Faced with the great demand for productivity established by the capitalist system and contemporary culture, most people feel exhausted, often becoming chore people. The culture of tiredness does not enable the experience of creativity and authenticity, often resulting in various pathologies, including burnout syndrome, which presents a growing and impactful demand on the lives of the working individual and the collective. Based on the indication of possible stressors in the work of teachers, from public institutions of primary and secondary education, in a city in the interior of São Paulo, an exploratory research was carried out with 38 teachers, 7 male and 31 female, age minimum of 23 years old and maximum of 62 years old, with teaching experience in primary schools. For data collection a questionnaire was used, prepared by the researchers based on the theoretical basis on the false self, with the aim of identifying its characteristics and also the Brazilian Burnout Scale (EBBurn) for preliminary identification of burnout in the population of this study. The findings from the quantitative analysis showed there is no significant relationship between the two constructs, however, from a thorough qualitative analysis it was possible to perceive a convergence between the false self and burnout, since the false self presents characteristics of focusing on environmental demands, as well as the subject's lack of perception of their most genuine needs, such as rest, which, over time, can culminate in burnout.

The psychological nature of female psychogenic infertility: psychoanalytic reflections

The theoretical basis of this work are the ideas of Maidi U., Mitchell J., Motz A., Pattis-Zoya E., Reinhold Joseph S., Langer M., Leisinger-Boleber M. The object of research: the phenomenon of psychogenic female infertility in the psychoanalytic understanding. The article shows aspects of the psychogenesis of female psychogenic infertility: the image of the mother, destructiveness and psychogenic infertility, denial of femininity and gender-role identity, violation of identification with the mother and identification with the "dead mother", transgenerational transmission and psychogenic infertility, unconscious conflicts and the Medea complex. These aspects are reflected in two psychoanalytic studies, the results of which are briefly reflected in this publication. The results showed the presence of common signs for women with psychogenic infertility: 1. In fantasies, the future child is endowed with expectations aimed at satisfying a deficient mother; 2. Women have a violation of gender-role identity - identification with the father; the desire to take the place of the father, playing partner and parent roles; 3. Ambivalent perception of the maternal figure; the image of the mother is idealized; 4. Women have a false self, pseudoedipality; 5. Women have a false femininity based not on identification with the mother, but on based on a primitive imitation of her. Identification with the "dead mother" is impossible; 6. The presence of a castration complex in women, reinforced by identification with the father. As a result, the process of childbirth causes horror, correlated with castration, which is denied and covered up by the desire to have a child; 7. The presence of a separation complex, where separation from a "dead mother" is not possible, because then one person will be "dead". 8. Parentification, "dead mother", "dead father", transgenerational transmission of conflicts "crypts and ghosts", untreated traumatization and unlived grief. The leading events in the life history of women suffering from psychogenic infertility are the experience of loss and violence.

All by myself: examining social media’s effect on social withdrawal and the mediating roles of moral disengagement and cyberaggression

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine how the constructs of false self, preference for online social interaction (POSI), compulsive internet use (CIU), and online disinhibition affect social withdrawal in a social media context. The mediating effects of moral disengagement and cyber aggression are also tested.Design/methodology/approachData were collected using an online survey (n = 533) from consumers in Japan. This study used structural equation modeling and PROCESS to examine the proposed relationships.FindingsThe study revealed that false self positively affects moral disengagement while online disinhibition positively affects cyber aggression and moral disengagement. Preference for online social interaction and compulsive internet use both positively impacts social withdrawal. Cyber aggression and moral disengagement were established mediators between false self/ Preference for online social interaction/ compulsive internet use/ online disinhibition and social withdrawal.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough restricted to cyberaggression, owing to the reciprocal relationship between cyber victimization and cyberaggression, cyber victimization can be included for further study. This study expands the understanding of social withdrawal within the context of social media.Practical implicationsBased on the findings, policies and programs that address mental health that build self-esteem, self-confidence and reduce anxiety ought to be undertaken. Managing and formulating guidelines on anonymity should also be taken into consideration.Originality/valueThis research demonstrates the crucial constructs that affect social media users negatively from the aspects of cyberaggression, moral disengagement and social withdrawal. It also establishes the importance of mental health in reducing adverse effects from social media.

You better stop hiding your true self! The relationship between perceived false self, academic burnout, and mental health problems

Introduction: False self is defined as the discrepancy between what we show and what we truly think and feel, and is associated with mental health and social problems. The present study aimed to examine the perception of false self-relationships with emotions, and educational and mental health problems. Specifically, the mediation effects of emotional regulation strategies and academic burnout on the association between perceived false self and depressive symptoms as well as life satisfaction were tested. Material and methods: The study design was cross-sectional. A paper-pencil method of data collection was used. The survey included the Academic Burnout Inventory (MBI-SS), the Perceived False Self Scale (POFS), the Depressive Symptoms Questionnaire (CES-D), and the life satisfaction scale (SWS). A total number of 149 participants took part in this study (aged: M=21.09; SD=1.72; 84.6% women). Results: The findings indicate that the perceived false self, emotional suppression, cognitive reappraisal, and academic burnout explain 31% of depressive symptoms and 31% of life satisfaction. The perceived false self was associated indirectly with depressive symptoms and life satisfaction via (1) emotional suppression, (2) academic burnout, and (3) emotional suppression, cognitive reassessment, and academic burnout altogether. Conclusions: Findings confirmed that inauthenticity is connected to mental health impairment and educational problems. Hiding the true self is associated with the suppression of true emotions, and for this reason, a person may experience tension. Consequently, a long-term struggle with distress generates burnout syndrome and an increased risk of mental health problems. In preventive interventions, it is important to include actions that strengthen authentic responses. Keywords: life satisfaction, emotional regulation, academic burnout, perceived false self, symptoms of depression

Social Media Real and False Self Will to Power (RFSWP) Defense Mechanisms and Research Results

Abstract
 The underlying reason why people participate in social media and follow people like famous, elite, powerful and phenomenal is that they want to gain power, cooperate with power and be a part of power. While people want to be a part of the power by participating in the social media game, the will to power the actual and false self also exhibits the behavioral characteristics of the defense mechanisms. As a result, people realize their security request; eliminate the deficiencies that he has begun to feel in themselves; It satisfies the will-to power-needs by realizing its efforts to defeat and gain superiority. This research aims to examine the relationship of social media (independent variable) with will to power defense mechanisms, which are explained as mechanisms of real and false self (dependent variables. The social media real and false self will to power (RFSWP) defense mechanisms scale developed by the research author. According to the results of the research, the will to power defense mechanisms examined in the research are carried out by digital immigrants and digital natives in social media, and digital immigrants and digital natives make efforts in social media to use will to power defense mechanisms. The study is important in that it proposes to add the "power will defense mechanism" to the defense mechanisms.

ON ERICH FROMM’S VIRTUE ETHICS

Fromm’s ethics can be viewed as a form of virtue ethics, which emphasizes the importance of developing one’s true self and reducing one's false self. By doing so, one can change their psychological state in terms of character and psychological tendencies, leading to an improved moral life and higher moral standards. While some criticisms have been raised about virtue theory, including its perceived inability to guide one on how to act properly, Fromm's virtue ethics is unique in that it does not focus on establishing universal rules for specific actions. Instead, it seeks to establish universal laws for human behavioral tendencies or trends. Through his unique social psychology, Fromm provides an in-depth analysis of the inner world of man, which can serve as a valuable guide to the general direction of human development and freedom. In addition, Fromm’s virtue ethics also highlights the importance of social relationships and the impact they have on our moral development. He argues that our relationships with others can have a profound effect on our psychological state and our ability to live virtuously. Overall, Fromm’s virtue ethics provides a unique perspective on human development and morality. By focusing on the development of one’s true self and the importance of social relationships, his approach offers a valuable guide to living a fulfilling and virtuous life.

Pragmatism or idealism: a systematic review and visual analysis of Winnicott's psychoanalytical treatment views.

Winnicott is an outstanding representative of the School of Object Relations, and his unique psychoanalytic treatment views have been greatly influential to the psychoanalytical community. Winnicott emphasizes the impact of facilitating environment and the key role of the maternal-child relationship in the early psychological growth of individuals. He puts forward the ideas of the development mechanism of the true self and the false self, which builds a bridge between the characteristics of adult psychopathology and the characteristics of early maternal-child relationships, providing a new perspective for research on individual self-development and psychoanalysis. Winnicott creatively introduces the concepts of the transitional object and the transitional phenomena into the theories of Object Relations. He relates the transitional experience to the field of mental health, and extends it from the relationship between the mother and the child to adult life, which not only has had a revolutionary impact on modern psychoanalysis but also literature, aesthetics, and other fields. Winnicott highlights the importance of the patient's emotional development in the treatment. He advocates holding the patients' sentiments and meeting their emotional needs. He also approves of the emotional reparenting of the patients, to make them gain the ability to establish a relationship with the real world. His treatment views formed through a large number of clinical practices are very practical and full of humanistic care. This review summarizes Winnicott's psychoanalytical treatment views as well as his marvelous original concepts, and analyzes the hot topics of academic research on his theories based on a visualization analysis by using the software CiteSpace, which includes data in the Web of Science Core Collection published from 1978 to 2023 with 365 papers involved. The study provides a macroscopic and panoramic review of Winnicott's theories, and it clearly shows Winnicott's significant influence on the field of psychoanalysis and related fields.

Using art therapy to address the protective false self when working with queer identity.

The exploration of one’s queer identity can prove significant for queer-identifying people. A result of exploring the multiple layers and aspects of queerness that comprise one's identity is being able to engage in society from the perspective of one’s most authentic self, or as psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott termed it, the ‘true self’. In this paper, I contend that for a queer person to explore their identity, they must first address their protective 'false self', the self that develops from having to comply with the external world. I draw on findings from my dissertation study, which used qualitative methodologies, of an eight-session group art therapy intervention for queer-identifying individuals that aimed to determine whether art therapy can be used to foster self-acceptance. Each session resulted in the creation of an artwork followed by a discussion prompted by the artworks. Many artworks featured bodies and parts of bodies as representations of self and revealed an ambivalence between the true self that wanted to be witnessed and the false self that wanted to conceal the true self. One of the core findings from my dissertation was that the false self only began emerging into the consciousness of the participants at the end of the intervention. In this article, I focus on the artworks created by two participants who attended the group most regularly and tracked the false self in their artworks. This paper argues that there is value in the false self’s protective function as a defence mechanism for the queer population and concludes by highlighting the importance of making visible the false self, through art therapy, before exploring the multiple layers of queer identity.

Elección de pareja: implicaciones y complicaciones

Human individualistic loneliness impels us to live as a couple and to achieve male/female complementarity, affection, and reciprocity. The scientific journalism of this article paraphrases the content of its bibliography when reviewing the choice of a partner, its satisfaction and complications and preventive instruction of circumstances that cause rupture. The flaw, since the election, ignores the mechanisms between reason and sexual instinct. The problem of love is not to be loved but to develop such a capacity, since maladjustment and monotony extinguishes it. The elector/chosen act and its simultaneous reasons are described: conscious (homogeneity/heterogeneity of the encounter; emulation of the animal model; type, link dynamics and social networks; sociodemographic aspects; geographic location and accessibility; sexual sharing and immediate/future expectations), and unconscious (election problems, dyadic interaction and parental history; defense mechanisms, exchange of dissociations; idealization; negative reciprocity, power struggle, projective identification, search for appreciation for the other; narcissism, false self, delay/avoidance mechanisms liability, insecurity, trespass and collusion). A healthy couple understands/attends to the creation and maintenance of ""we"", eliminates the power struggle and produces permanent conciliation. Agreement and tolerant understanding are essential for a satisfactory, stable, and lasting emotional relationship. Keywords: Choice of partner; conscious/unconscious reasons; “we”; power struggle; conciliation

Двойники и симулякры в художественном мире В.М. Шукшина

In his youth, Shukshin “half-jokingly tried to resemble the “great ones”. Jack London, Lenin, even Stalin”. After the twentieth Congress of the CPSU, Shukshin radically changed his life-creating guidelines. During his studies at VGIK, Stepan Razin became his idol. Too abrupt a change in the model of everyday behavior indicates not so much the intensity of the young Shukshin’s search, as the presence of a serious internal conflict. The writer managed to solve psychological problems relatively successfully, but the heroes of his works often come to a complete rejection of the true Self in the name of the false Self. For example, the hero of the story “Milles pardon, Madame!”, on the one hand, constructs his fantastic false Self, on the other — is full of contempt for the authentic Self. It is characteristic that real life begins for Bron’ka only at the moment when he completely renounces his true Self. The tragic aspect of the theme of duality comes to the surface in the story “Suraz”. The coexistence of an “angel” and a “striped snake” in Spirka turns his persona into a Janus-like one. The hero is not engaged in constructing his “ideal Self”, a romantic double (Byron) is imposed on him from the outside. In this version, the outcome of the struggle with his “shadow” is the most dramatic, everything ends with suicide, which surprisingly resembles murder.

심리치료의 탈동일시 개념에 관한 고찰

Psychotherapy involves a disidentification process that liberates individuals from maladaptive identification with specific events or objects. This review examines the definitions of disidentification across various psychological theories and explores their application in psychotherapy. Buddhist meditation training, for instance, centers around cultivating awareness of physical and psychological experiences, leading to the realization of their impermanence and emptiness. This mechanism helps reduce maladaptive identification of the self with particular experiences. Furthermore, Assagioli's Psychosynthesis Theory and Ken Wilber's Integral Theory explain changes in one's psychological state as a result of disidentification, emphasizing the transcendental mental state. Winnicott, a psychoanalyst, defines the transition from False Self to the True Self as disidentification, while Acceptance and Commitment Therapy employs the concept of cognitive defusion to describe detachment from language and symbolization. The review also examines disidentification within the context of the Mentalization Theory. This comprehensive review proposes an expanded definition of disidentification by addressing its various applications within numerous psychological theories. Additionally, it discusses the significance of disidentification as a common mechanism that underlies the effectiveness of various psychotherapeutic approaches.

A machine in the loop: the peculiar intervention of artificial intelligence in writer’s block

ABSTRACT Generative artificial intelligence is changing how we can choose to resolve writing challenges. Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are readily accessible to generate text effortlessly. This paper explores the human-AI relationship when generative AI is used to assist a writer suffering from writer’s block. Research shows that talking to others is an effective strategy for blocked writers. This other no longer needs to be a human. I examine what happens when generative AI is brought into the writing loop: the nonlinear process of writing and rewriting a creative piece. The film Adaptation (2002. Directed by Spike Jonze, Performance by Nicolas Cage. Meryl Streep, and Chris Cooper. Columbia), written by Charlie Kaufman, is used as a case study of writer’s block to illustrate several complexities of the disorder and to theorise potential openings and limitations for the use of AI. Through the film, writer’s block is also explored as having a twin pathology of hypergraphia. Writing with AI is seen to mimic peculiarities of creative writing that include projecting one’s inner voice and seeking a false self. In the example of Adaptation, one ultimately comes to appreciate too that suffering through a block unaided can propel a writer to make bold decisions and test the limits of human creativity.

Understanding Somatization through the Prism of Deficit Pathology and Winnicott's False Self

In this article, the author investigates the wide variation in historical and contemporary understandings of somatization. The article explores the rewards of understanding somatization as a deficit pathology and proposes an integration of deficit pathology theory and Winnicott's theory of self to better understand the causes of somatization. The author postulates a link between the formation of a pathological false self and somatoform symptoms and draws on Killingmo's description of conflict and deficit pathology to integrate the defensive organization (false self) with the concept of deficit. The false self is conceptualized as a defensive organization that is born in a climate of deficit, including early childhood trauma. Therapeutic implications include a focus on experiencing meaning, working with alexithymia, and providing the client an opportunity to confront the painful reality of their unmet needs, in a safe and holding environment not afforded to them in childhood. The author outlines the therapeutic goal of moving toward a renewed sense of ‘equilibrium of self’, where a person can freely and safely demonstrate vulnerability as well as meet their own needs. This in turn works to reduce the need for the protection of a pathological false self and the tightly bound somatoform symptomatology.

Authenticity and Inauthenticity in Adolescents: A Scoping Review

AbstractIn everyday life, adolescents’ authenticity and inauthenticity (sense of, and being, the real me/true self; or false self/not the real me) are assumed to be general indicators of their psychosocial health as they navigate developmental processes of identity exploration and relational connectedness on their way to adulthood. Authenticity is important for psychological thriving in adolescents and inauthenticity is considered maladaptive, but there was no broad and systematic evidence-based resource on the topic. Therefore, this scoping review maps: (1) how authenticity and inauthenticity in adolescents (12–18 years old) have been understood, defined, and characterized; (2) what is known about authenticity and inauthenticity; (3) contexts authenticity and inauthenticity have been explored in; and (4) methodological approaches utilized. This review followed a pre-registered protocol (2852 records identified; 39 peer-reviewed primary research studies included). The review revealed authenticity and inauthenticity are typically: characterized as dispositional, involving thoughts, feelings, awareness, and a sense of being one’s true self or a false self; investigated quantitatively; and contextualized in close social relationships (parents, friends, classmates). Authenticity and inauthenticity outcomes included friendship quality, wellbeing, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, internet addiction, and moral disengagement. Adolescents’ authenticity generally increases over time and social support is very important for that process. Adolescents can be more authentic if parents facilitate adolescents’ increasing independence and support role experimentation. Future research should target state (here-and-now) authenticity, as a critical finding was that autonomy satisfaction has an immediate and positive influence on adolescents’ state authenticity, which implies people interacting with adolescents can promptly boost their capacity for positive psychological development.

The Jim Croce Question

The Jim Croce Question

Do positive emotions prompt people to be more authentic? The mediation effect of gratitude and empathy dimensions on the relationship between humility state and perceived false self

BackgroundGratitude, empathy and humility have been defined as personality dispositions, as complex interpersonal emotions, and as states that prompt people to be more pro-social. However, studies on the associations between these emotions and authen-ticity are scarce. The main purpose of this study was to analyze the mediation effect of gratitude and empathy on the asso-ciation between humility and perceived false identity.Participants and procedureThe number of participants who took part in the survey was equal to 220 university students (91% female). Students com-pleted questionnaires concerning humility (BSHS scale), gratitude (GQ scale), empathy (QCAE inventory), and perceived false self (POFS scale).ResultsThe results confirmed significant correlations between gratitude, empathy and authenticity, but not with humility. Further analysis revealed that gratitude and affective and cognitive empathy explain 9% of the perceived false identity level. The findings confirmed the mediation effect of gratitude on the associations between (1) humility and false self, (2) affective empathy and false self, but not between cognitive empathy and false self. The results also indicated that humility may in-fluence authenticity indirectly via gratitude, but not via dimensions of empathy.ConclusionsThe findings confirm the significance of gratitude and cognitive empathy as dispositions that promote a feeling of being authentic. On the other hand, the relationship between affective empathy and false self was positive.

Self-Esteem and Real Self and False Self Presentation on Facebook Among Emerging Adults: The Moderating Role of Social Anxiety

This study examined the individual and interactive associations between self-esteem, social anxiety, and real and false self-presentation on Facebook. Data came from a college sample of 216 emerging adult Facebook users (M age ≈ 23, 171 women). Findings indicate that social anxiety moderated the association between self-esteem and false self-presentation, such that emerging adults low in self-esteem and high in social anxiety may present themselves in a more deceptive, inauthentic, and socially desirable manner on Facebook. Results also suggest that emerging adults with higher self-esteem may present their real self (authentic) more on Facebook, whereas emerging adults with lower self-esteem may present their false self (deceptive and socially desirable) to a greater extent. Findings also indicate that socially anxious emerging adults may present their false self more on Facebook, motivated by social desirability and self-exploration. Implications for interpersonal experiences (e.g., social acceptance and social rejection/exclusion) during emerging adulthood are discussed.