I suspect that he’s using “true self” to refer to facets of himself that a psychologist would call ego-syntonic. Simply put, ego-syntonic facets of oneself are in accordance with a person’s self-image and ego-dystonic facets of oneself are at odds with one’s self-conception. The actual person is ultimately the “true” self, warts and all.
It is as much a function of a person’s self-concept as it is of the person’s behavior. For example, homosexuality can be ego-dystonic (closeted; in denial) or ego-syntonic (self-accepted, if not necessarily public).
It is often mature and appropriate to pursue ego-syntonic goals to try to become the person you want to be. On the other hand, each of us has behaviors that resist improvement (as our self-concepts define “improvement”); learning to accept and accommodate the facets of yourself that resist change can also be healthy.
I suspect that he’s using “true self” to refer to facets of himself that a psychologist would call ego-syntonic. Simply put, ego-syntonic facets of oneself are in accordance with a person’s self-image and ego-dystonic facets of oneself are at odds with one’s self-conception. The actual person is ultimately the “true” self, warts and all.
It is as much a function of a person’s self-concept as it is of the person’s behavior. For example, homosexuality can be ego-dystonic (closeted; in denial) or ego-syntonic (self-accepted, if not necessarily public).
It is often mature and appropriate to pursue ego-syntonic goals to try to become the person you want to be. On the other hand, each of us has behaviors that resist improvement (as our self-concepts define “improvement”); learning to accept and accommodate the facets of yourself that resist change can also be healthy.
Thanks, that was an interesting reply :)