Ego: Definition, Examples, & Psychology​

Ego: Definition, Examples, & Psychology

Let’s learn about the ego as a psychological and philosophical concept, its benefits and drawbacks, and how it contributes to our behavior.

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In modern language, we typically use the word “ego” to mean arrogance, to describe someone full of themselves and inconsiderate of others. As in, “Ugh, they have such a huge ego! They think they’re better than everyone else.” However, in the worlds of psychology and Eastern philosophy, the ego isn't just about arrogance. It can be seen as something that helps us function in the world or, on the other hand, as the root of suffering.

In this article, we’ll explore the concept of ego from several perspectives. We’ll also offer some examples of ego and how it functions, and we’ll examine how it shapes our sense of self, our motivations, our interactions, and our sense of well-being.

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What Is Ego? (A Definition)

From a psychological perspective, ego refers to a person's sense of self-esteem, self-importance, and self-worth. It’s your perception of yourself, your abilities, and your place in the world. The concept of ego is often associated with Freudian psychology, which is one of the three parts of the psyche (along with the id and the superego). In this context, the ego acts as a mediator between the primitive desires of the id and the societal constraints of the superego (Tarzian et al., 2023).

Renowned psychologist Carl Jung saw the ego as the center of our consciousness, encompassing our awareness of existence and an enduring sense of individual identity. The ego serves as the controller of our thoughts, intuitions, emotions, sensations, and memories that aren’t suppressed (Hopwood, n.d.). It’s our sense of awareness and serves to integrate different parts of our psyche.

From a spiritual perspective, the ego is the sense of “I” that separates us from everything else. It can be seen as a limited sense of self that emphasizes separateness and individuality. It's the collection of beliefs, thoughts, and experiences that shape our individual identity.

Psychologist and Buddhist scholar Mark Epstein believes that the ego is the common ground connecting Western psychology and Eastern philosophy. Both approaches see an overreliance on the ego as a primary cause of suffering (Radsken, 2018).

Benefits of the Ego

In psychology, the ego is viewed as serving an important purpose. It’s what allows us to function effectively in the world. It helps us to maintain healthy boundaries that protect our well-being. It’s what allows us to say "no" when needed and to advocate for ourselves. A strong ego helps us bounce back from setbacks and failures. It fuels our determination and allows us to learn from our mistakes.

Confidence: A healthy ego gives you a sense of trust in your abilities. This can help you take on challenges, make decisions, and lead others.
Self-esteem: Ego provides the foundation for a healthy sense of self-worth. It allows you to value yourself and your contributions.
Sense of self: Your ego shapes your understanding of yourself and your place in the world. It provides a framework for your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Creativity: In some cases, a healthy ego can fuel creativity and innovation. It can lead individuals to think outside the box, challenge conventional wisdom, and pursue novel ideas or solutions.

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What Is an Ego Boost?

An ego boost is a psychological or emotional upliftment that bolsters your self-esteem or confidence. It often results from positive feedback, recognition, or accomplishments that validate your worth or abilities. This boost can come from external sources like compliments, praise, or achievements as well as internal factors such as self-reflection and personal growth. Ego boosts play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy sense of self-worth and motivation, encouraging individuals to strive for success and pursue their goals with confidence (Williamson, 2011).

Challenges of the Ego

However, an inflated ego can lead to arrogance, narcissism, and self-centeredness. These traits can damage relationships, create conflicts, and hinder growth. In addition, an overly rigid ego can make us resistant to feedback, new ideas, and personal growth. We may become defensive and close ourselves off to learning opportunities.

It can also cause relationship issues by contributing to a lack of empathy. When our ego takes center stage, it can be difficult to see things from another person's perspective. This can lead to insensitivity, selfishness, and difficulty understanding and responding to the needs of others. Further, ego can make us defensive, preventing us from truly listening to and understanding others. It can also lead to a need to be "right" all the time, hindering productive communication and collaboration.

From the Eastern concept of ego as illusion, it’s this illusion that separates us from our true selves and others. From this perspective, diminishing the ego’s influence and overcoming its limitations is essential for experiencing true connection and compassion in relationships. In addition, many Eastern philosophies see this illusion as a cause of suffering. The ego is believed to be the primary source of our craving for external validation, possessions, and achievements in order to feel secure and fulfilled. This attachment can lead to dissatisfaction, envy, and anxiety when those desires are unmet. In addition, when we become overly attached to specific outcomes or possessions, the inability to fulfill those desires can lead to suffering. This attachment can result in feelings of frustration, disappointment, or even anxiety.

The Psychology of the Ego

In psychology, the term "ego" is used in a couple of different ways, reflecting the diverse perspectives and theories within the field. One of the most prominent uses of the term originates from psychoanalytic theory, particularly in the work of Sigmund Freud. Here, the ego is seen as a crucial component of the mind, responsible for mediating between the instinctual drives of the id and the moral standards of the superego. This perspective emphasizes the ego's role in managing conflicts, balancing internal desires with external realities, and employing defense mechanisms to cope with anxiety (Tarzian et al., 2023). (More about this in the next section.)

In other psychological approaches like humanistic and Jungian psychology, the term "ego" may be used to refer to a person's sense of self, identity, and self-esteem. Here, the focus is on self-awareness, self-concept, and personal growth. The ego is viewed as central to your psychological well-being, influencing how you perceive yourself, relate to others, and navigate life's challenges. This perspective highlights the positive aspects of ego development, such as self-confidence, resilience, and a coherent sense of identity.

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Id, Ego, & Superego in Psychology

Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, proposed the id, ego, and superego as the three parts of the human personality that work together to influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They are not physical structures in the brain but rather theoretical constructs used to explain our mental processes. Here’s some more detail (Tarzian et al., 2023):

Id: The id is the primitive, unconscious part of the personality. It’s driven by basic instincts and desires, such as hunger, thirst, sex, and aggression. The id operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of these needs without regard to reality or social norms. Imagine a toddler having a tantrum because they want candy right now; that's the id in action.
Ego: The ego is the rational, decision-making part of the personality. It operates on the reality principle, mediating between the id's desires and the superego's moral constraints. The ego tries to find realistic ways to satisfy the id's urges in a way that is socially acceptable. Think of the ego as the parent in the candy store scenario, trying to calm the child down while also considering their long-term health and maybe offering a fruit snack instead.
Superego: The superego is the moral conscience of the personality. It represents internalized societal values and ideals, such as right and wrong, good and bad. The superego strives for perfection and can make us feel guilty or ashamed when we violate our internalized moral code. For instance, the superego might be the voice telling you it's wrong to steal that candy bar, even if the id really wants it and the ego sees an opportunity.

Video: Id, Ego, Superego

What Does It Mean to Be Egocentric?

The word “egocentric” is used to describe someone who is preoccupied with themselves and their own needs. They have difficulty understanding or considering the thoughts and feelings of others. Here's a breakdown of the term:

Self-absorption: Egocentric people are preoccupied with their own needs, wants, and desires. They may struggle to see things from other perspectives.
Limited viewpoint: They assume everyone else thinks and feels the way they do. They give little or no thought to other people's experiences or opinions.
Lack of consideration: Their actions and decisions often prioritize themselves, potentially disregarding the impact on others.

Examples of Ego

Let’s look at examples of ego from a few different categories.

From Psychology

Reality testing: As mentioned above, in psychoanalytic theory, the ego's primary function is to engage in reality testing, which involves assessing the external world and making decisions that satisfy both the id's desires and the superego's moral standards. For example, a person may feel a strong urge to eat a delicious cake (id), but the ego considers factors such as health concerns and social etiquette (superego) before deciding whether to indulge.
Defense mechanisms: The ego employs defense mechanisms to cope with internal conflicts and protect the individual from anxiety or distress. For instance, if someone experiences feelings of inferiority, their ego might utilize the defense mechanism of compensation by excelling in other areas to boost their self-esteem and mitigate feelings of inadequacy.

Self-identity development: During adolescence, we undergo a process of ego development where we explore and define our sense of self. This includes forming beliefs, values, and personal attributes that contribute to our identity. For example, a teenager might experiment with different hobbies, interests, and social groups to discover what aligns with their ego or self-image.
Self-esteem and self-worth: Ego in psychology also encompasses self-esteem, which refers to how individuals perceive and value themselves. Someone with a healthy ego has a positive self-image, feels confident in their abilities, and maintains a sense of self-worth. Conversely, low self-esteem can indicate a weaker ego, leading to self-doubt, insecurity, and a negative self-concept.

Egocentrism

Emotional egocentrism: This is when people have difficulty recognizing, understanding, or empathizing with others' emotions. They may prioritize their own feelings and needs without considering how their actions impact others emotionally.
Communication difficulty: Some people exhibit egocentrism in communication by focusing solely on expressing their own thoughts and opinions without considering the listener's needs or interests. For example, they may dominate conversations, interrupt others, or fail to listen actively.
Difficulty with perspective taking: This form of egocentrism involves challenges in taking another person's perspective or seeing a situation from different viewpoints. For example, a person might struggle to understand why someone else feels upset about a situation that didn't affect them personally.

Personality Trait Examples

Excessive self-praise: Someone constantly talks about their accomplishments, skills, or possessions in a way that seeks validation or admiration from others. For instance, they may brag about how much money they make or how successful they are in their career.
Refusal to admit mistakes: A person with a big ego might find it challenging to admit when they are wrong or to apologize for their actions. They may justify their behavior or blame others instead of taking responsibility.
Competitiveness: Someone with a strong ego may always need to be the best or need to win at everything they do. They might feel threatened by others' success and try to outshine them in any way possible.
Need for constant attention: Some people with a large ego crave attention and validation from others. They may seek out compliments, admiration, or approval to boost their self-esteem.
Insecurity masked as arrogance: Sometimes ego can be a defense mechanism to cover up feelings of insecurity or inadequacy. The person may come across as arrogant or overly confident to compensate for their underlying doubts.
Display of superiority or entitlement: Ego can lead to a sense of entitlement, where someone believes they deserve special treatment, respect, or privileges solely based on their self-perceived superiority.

Video: 6 Signs Your Ego Is Controlling Your Life

What Is Ego Death?

Ego death, also known as ego dissolution, refers to a temporary letting go of your sense of self and the illusion of separateness from everything else. It's often described as a feeling of oneness with the universe or a loss of individual identity (Knoblauch, 1982). This concept is often associated with spiritual and psychological growth, emphasizing a shift from a self-centered perspective to a more ego-transcendent understanding of yourself and the world.

Since the ego is what gives us our sense of self and our identity, why would we want to dissolve it? Intuitively, you might think it’s better to strengthen the ego, but many benefits can come from reducing the ego’s influence. These include:

Reduced suffering: This is in line with Eastern philosophies. Egoic attachments and desires can lead to suffering when they are unmet. By dissolving the ego, we may experience a reduction in personal suffering as we become less attached to outcomes and more accepting of the present moment.
Improved mental health: Studies show ego dissolution and the feeling of connectedness it facilitates can promote mental health and psychological well-being across several mental health conditions, particularly depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders (Kałużna, et al., 2022).
Improved physical health: The ego arises from the default mode network (DMN) parts of the brain. Inflammation can affect this network, contributing to many diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, and autoimmune disorders. Dissolving the ego disrupts the DMN, thus lessening inflammation and reducing the risk of these diseases (Pillay, 2022).
Improved relationships: Ego-driven behaviors, such as defensiveness and competitiveness, can strain relationships. Dissolving the ego can improve interpersonal connections by fostering empathy, understanding, and cooperation.
Freedom from limiting beliefs: The ego often reinforces limiting beliefs about yourself. Dissolving the ego can free you from self-imposed constraints, allowing for personal growth, creativity, and a more authentic expression of your true nature (Stoliker, 2022).

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How Does One Achieve Ego Death?

This is a complicated question, and there are several ways to move closer to ego death. Before we describe a few strategies and techniques, it’s important to note that ego dissolution is usually a gradual process and it varies among individuals. It often takes years of practice and commitment.

Meditation and mindfulness: Regular meditation practice can help quiet the mind, dissolve egoic attachments, and cultivate a deeper sense of presence and awareness. Techniques such as mindfulness meditation, focused breathing, and self-inquiry can gradually lead to a reduction in egoic identification.
Observing triggers: From the perspective of psychology, triggers are events that happen around us (and less often, inside us) that cause us to have particular emotional reactions or behave in specific ways (Miskewicz et al., 2015). The ego, fueled by our sense of identity and self-preservation, contributes to trigger reactions. It tends to interpret situations and events through established beliefs and perceptions, often leading to emotional responses based on a need to protect itself.

By observing our triggers, we can gain crucial distance from them. This provides an opportunity for self-reflection and questioning of ingrained beliefs and reactions. In this way, the mindful observation of triggers becomes a powerful tool in the dissolution of the ego, paving the way for personal growth, expanded consciousness, and a deeper connection with the present moment.
Surrender and letting go practices: Letting go practices involve releasing attachment to desires, possessions, and even fleeting emotions. In Buddhism, it’s known as non-attachment, which is a feeling of not being stuck or fixated on ideas, images, or objects. It also includes not feeling the need to acquire, hold, or avoid (Whitehead et al., 2018). As we observe thoughts and feelings without judgment, we weaken their hold on us. Letting go of the need to "be right" or have things a certain way allows us to experience the world with greater authenticity and compassion. This process gradually softens the ego's grip on our identity, revealing the interconnectedness of existence.
Self-inquiry: Questioning your thoughts and beliefs helps you understand their roots and challenge ego-driven narratives. Questioning the nature of the self can help you explore who or what is experiencing thoughts and emotions. The process of self-inquiry, as advocated by teachings like Advaita Vedanta, can lead to a deeper understanding of the illusion of the ego.
Therapeutic approaches: Certain therapeutic modalities, such as transpersonal therapy, mindfulness-based therapies, and psychodynamic therapy, may facilitate the exploration and transformation of ego structures.
Nature and solitude: Spending time in nature, engaging in solitary activities like hiking or contemplative walks, and disconnecting from external stimuli can create conditions conducive to ego dissolution.
Artistic expression: Engaging in creative pursuits like art, music, dance, or writing can provide avenues for transcending ego boundaries and accessing deeper states of consciousness.
Psychedelic experiences: Psychedelic drugs, such as LSD, psilocybin, DMT, and ayahuasca, are known for their ability to induce ego dissolution (Letheby & Gerrans, 2017; Stoliker et al., 2022). In studies that explored the effect of psychedelics administered in a therapeutic context, participants often reported experiencing a loss of subjective self-identity, a sense of unity with the universe, a loss of boundaries between self and the environment, and a feeling of being unreal or detached from their mental processes (Millière, 2017).

Video: Why Your Self-Image Might Be Wrong: Ego, Buddhism, and Freud

Articles Related to Ego

Want to learn more? Check out these articles:

Books Related to Ego

If you’d like to keep learning more, here are a few books that you might be interested in.

Final Thoughts on Ego

The ego is a complex and multifaceted aspect of our personality that plays a crucial role in our psychological well-being and our interactions with the world around us. While a healthy ego is essential for functioning, an inflated or fragile ego can lead to problems. Through practices such as meditation, self-inquiry, and letting go, we can cultivate a more balanced relationship with our ego, reducing its negative impact and fostering personal growth, emotional health, and a deeper connection to ourselves and the world.

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References

Hopwood, A. (n.d.). Jung’s model of the psyche. Society of Analytical Psychology. https://www.thesap.org.uk/articles-on-jungian-psychology-2/carl-gustav-jung/jungs-model-psyche/
Kałużna, A., Schlosser, M., Craste, E. G., Stroud, J., & Cooke, J. (2022). Being no one, being One: The role of ego-dissolution and connectedness in the therapeutic effects of psychedelic experience. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 6(2), 111–136.
Knoblauch, D. L. (1982). An application of Taoist thought in short term psychotherapy. Western Michigan University.
Letheby, C., & Gerrans, P. (2017). Self unbound: ego dissolution in psychedelic experience. Neuroscience of Consciousness, 2017(1), nix016.
Millière, R. (2017). Looking for the self: Phenomenology, neurophysiology and philosophical significance of drug-induced ego dissolution. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11(245). doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00245
Miskewicz, K., Fleeson, W., Arnold, E. M., Law, M. K., Mneimne, M., & Furr, R. M. (2015). A contingency-oriented approach to understanding borderline personality disorder: Situational triggers and symptoms. Journal of Personality Disorders, 29(4), 486–502.
Pillay, S. (2022, October 22). The importance of not being who you think you are. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/debunking-myths-the-mind/202210/the-importance-not-being-who-you-think-you-are
Radsken, J. (2018, January 16). Driven by ego? This book’s for you. Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/01/harvard-trained-psychiatrist-offers-escape-route-for-the-ego-driven/
Stoliker, D., Egan, G. F., Friston, K. J., & Razi, A. (2022). Neural mechanisms and psychology of psychedelic ego dissolution. Pharmacological Reviews, 74(4), 876–917.
Tarzian, M., Ndrio, M., & Fakoya, A. O. (2023). An introduction and brief overview of psychoanalysis. Cureus, 15(9).
Whitehead, R., Bates, G., Elphinstone, B., Yang, Y., & Murray, G. (2018). Letting go of self: The creation of the nonattachment to self scale. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 2544.
Williamson, J. (2011). The effects of ego threat and self-esteem boost on overall self-control ability [Doctoral dissertation, East Tennessee State University]. https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2459&context=etd

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