Whether consciously or unconsciously, an individual can imagine an idealized version of himself, which he will see as free from the problems or flaws he finds in his own identity. This second personality can be caused by a mental disorder, such as dissociative identity disorder however, this is not the only cause, not even the most common.Īccording to research, people can create an alter ego as a way to express their most hidden desires. The motives that can lead an individual to create an alter ego are very varied. However, it always refers to a second identity held by a person, which is easily distinguishable from the original. Meaningĭepending on where we are, the term "alter ego" can have slightly different meanings. It can also refer to a conscious effort on the part of an individual to change some of their behaviors radically. For example, in the field of art and literature, it is often used to refer to a character that reflects parts of the author's identity. Later, the term began to be used in contexts other than the clinic. This was due to the discovery and research on dissociative identity disorder, which causes an individual to present several personalities that change in a cyclical way. In the 19th century, it began to be used more frequently in the field of psychology. However, the term "alter ego" did not catch on until later. The concept began to be used in the 18th century, when the famous hypnotist Anton Mesmer discovered that some people have a totally different way of behaving when they are in a trance than during the waking state. It would be a set of behaviors, emotions, beliefs and thoughts different from those normally shown by the person. The alter egoIt is a concept used to refer to a second personality or identity possessed by an individual.
#ALTER EGO DEFINE HOW TO#
Alter ego: meaning, examples and how to create it (Psychology)