In psychoanalysis, egosyntonic refers to the behaviors, values, and feelings that are in harmony with or acceptable to the needs and goals of the ego, or consistent with one's ideal self-image. Egodystonic (or ego alien[1]) is the opposite, referring to thoughts and behaviors (dreams, compulsions, desires, etc.) that are conflicting or dissonant with the needs and goals of the ego, or further, in conflict with a person's ideal self-image.
Abnormal psychology has studied egosyntonic and egodystonic concepts in some detail. Many personality disorders are egosyntonic, which makes their treatment difficult as the patients may not perceive anything wrong and view their perceptions and behavior as reasonable and appropriate.[2] For example, a person with narcissistic personality disorder has an excessively positive self-regard and rejects suggestions that challenge this viewpoint. This corresponds to the general concept in psychiatry of poor insight. Anorexia nervosa, a difficult-to-treat disorder (formerly considered an Axis I disorder before the release of the DSM-5) characterized by a distorted body image and fear of gaining weight, is also considered egosyntonic because many of its sufferers deny that they have a problem.[3]Problem gambling, however, is only sometimes seen as egosyntonic, depending partly on the reactions of the individual involved and whether they know that their gambling is problematic.[4][5]
An illustration of the differences between an egodystonic and egosyntonic mental disorder is in comparing obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive–compulsive personality disorder. OCD is considered to be egodystonic as the thoughts and compulsions experienced or expressed are not consistent with the individual's self-perception, meaning the thoughts are unwanted, distressing, and reflect the opposite of their values, desires, and self-construct. In contrast, obsessive–compulsive personality disorder is egosyntonic, as the patient generally perceives their obsession with orderliness, perfectionism, and control, as reasonable and even desirable.[6][7]
Freudian heritageedit
The words "egosyntonic" and "egodystonic" originated as early-1920s translations of the German words "ichgerecht" and "nicht ichgerecht," "ichfremd," or "ichwidrig,"[8] which were introduced in 1914 by Freud in his book On Narcissism[9] and remained an important part of his conceptual armoury.[10] Freud applied these words to the relationship between a person's "instincts" and their "ego." Freud saw psychic conflict arising when "the original lagging instincts ... come into conflict with the ego (or ego-syntonic instincts)".[11] According to him, "ego-dystonic" sexual instincts were bound to be "repressed."[8]Anna Freud stressed how defences which were ego-syntonic were harder to expose than ego-dystonic impulses, because the former are familiar and taken for granted.[12] Later psychoanalytic writers emphasised how direct expression of the repressed was ego-dystonic, and indirect expression more ego-syntonic.[13]
Otto Fenichel distinguished between morbid impulses, which he saw as ego-syntonic, and compulsive symptoms which struck their possessors as ego-alien.[14]Heinz Hartmann, and after him ego psychology, also made central use of the twin concepts.[9]
^Howard Rosenthal, Human Services Dictionary (2003) p. 102
^Williams, Donna (2008-11-24). The Jumbled Jigsaw: An Insider's Approach to the Treatment of Autistic Spectrum `Fruit Salads'. Jessica Kingsley. ISBN978-1-84310-281-6.
^E. Hollander, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders (2010) p. 44
^Jon Halliday/Peter Fuller eds., The Psychology of Gambling (London 1974) p. 236 and p. 31
^E. Hollander, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders (2010) p. 92
^Aardema, F. & O'Connor. (2007). The menace within: obsessions and the self. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 21, 182–197.
^Aardema, F. & O'Connor. (2003). Seeing white bears that are not there: Inference processes in obsessions. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 17, 23–37.
^ abJanssen, Diederik F. (2016). ""Psychosexual Development Disorders": Calling and Recalling for Declassification". Archives of Sexual Behavior. 45 (7): 1601–1604. doi:10.1007/s10508-016-0787-2. ISSN 0004-0002. PMID 27393036. S2CID 29031029.
^ abJ. Palombo et al., Guide to Psychoanalytic Developmental Theories (2009) p. 55
^Teresa Brennan, The Interpretation of the Flesh (1992) p. 82
^Janet Malcolm, Psychoanalysis: The Impossible Profession (London 1988) p. 36
^Daniel Rancour-Laferriere, Sign and Subject (1978) p. 52
^Otto Fenichel, The Psychoanalytic Theory of Neurosis (London 1946) p. 382 and p. 367-8
December 14, 2023
egosyntonic, egodystonic, psychoanalysis, egosyntonic, refers, behaviors, values, feelings, that, harmony, with, acceptable, needs, goals, consistent, with, ideal, self, image, egodystonic, alien, opposite, referring, thoughts, behaviors, dreams, compulsions, . In psychoanalysis egosyntonic refers to the behaviors values and feelings that are in harmony with or acceptable to the needs and goals of the ego or consistent with one s ideal self image Egodystonic or ego alien 1 is the opposite referring to thoughts and behaviors dreams compulsions desires etc that are conflicting or dissonant with the needs and goals of the ego or further in conflict with a person s ideal self image Contents 1 Applicability 2 Freudian heritage 3 See also 4 ReferencesApplicability editAbnormal psychology has studied egosyntonic and egodystonic concepts in some detail Many personality disorders are egosyntonic which makes their treatment difficult as the patients may not perceive anything wrong and view their perceptions and behavior as reasonable and appropriate 2 For example a person with narcissistic personality disorder has an excessively positive self regard and rejects suggestions that challenge this viewpoint This corresponds to the general concept in psychiatry of poor insight Anorexia nervosa a difficult to treat disorder formerly considered an Axis I disorder before the release of the DSM 5 characterized by a distorted body image and fear of gaining weight is also considered egosyntonic because many of its sufferers deny that they have a problem 3 Problem gambling however is only sometimes seen as egosyntonic depending partly on the reactions of the individual involved and whether they know that their gambling is problematic 4 5 An illustration of the differences between an egodystonic and egosyntonic mental disorder is in comparing obsessive compulsive disorder OCD and obsessive compulsive personality disorder OCD is considered to be egodystonic as the thoughts and compulsions experienced or expressed are not consistent with the individual s self perception meaning the thoughts are unwanted distressing and reflect the opposite of their values desires and self construct In contrast obsessive compulsive personality disorder is egosyntonic as the patient generally perceives their obsession with orderliness perfectionism and control as reasonable and even desirable 6 7 Freudian heritage editThe words egosyntonic and egodystonic originated as early 1920s translations of the German words ichgerecht and nicht ichgerecht ichfremd or ichwidrig 8 which were introduced in 1914 by Freud in his book On Narcissism 9 and remained an important part of his conceptual armoury 10 Freud applied these words to the relationship between a person s instincts and their ego Freud saw psychic conflict arising when the original lagging instincts come into conflict with the ego or ego syntonic instincts 11 According to him ego dystonic sexual instincts were bound to be repressed 8 Anna Freud stressed how defences which were ego syntonic were harder to expose than ego dystonic impulses because the former are familiar and taken for granted 12 Later psychoanalytic writers emphasised how direct expression of the repressed was ego dystonic and indirect expression more ego syntonic 13 Otto Fenichel distinguished between morbid impulses which he saw as ego syntonic and compulsive symptoms which struck their possessors as ego alien 14 Heinz Hartmann and after him ego psychology also made central use of the twin concepts 9 See also editAnosognosia Cognitive dissonance Ego dystonic sexual orientation Insight Psychiatry Guilty pleasureReferences edit Howard Rosenthal Human Services Dictionary 2003 p 102 Williams Donna 2008 11 24 The Jumbled Jigsaw An Insider s Approach to the Treatment of Autistic Spectrum Fruit Salads Jessica Kingsley ISBN 978 1 84310 281 6 E Hollander Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders 2010 p 44 Jon Halliday Peter Fuller eds The Psychology of Gambling London 1974 p 236 and p 31 E Hollander Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders 2010 p 92 Aardema F amp O Connor 2007 The menace within obsessions and the self International Journal of Cognitive Therapy 21 182 197 Aardema F amp O Connor 2003 Seeing white bears that are not there Inference processes in obsessions Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy 17 23 37 a b Janssen Diederik F 2016 Psychosexual Development Disorders Calling and Recalling for Declassification Archives of Sexual Behavior 45 7 1601 1604 doi 10 1007 s10508 016 0787 2 ISSN 0004 0002 PMID 27393036 S2CID 29031029 a b J Palombo et al Guide to Psychoanalytic Developmental Theories 2009 p 55 Teresa Brennan The Interpretation of the Flesh 1992 p 82 Sigmund Freud Case Studies II PFL 9 p 206 Janet Malcolm Psychoanalysis The Impossible Profession London 1988 p 36 Daniel Rancour Laferriere Sign and Subject 1978 p 52 Otto Fenichel The Psychoanalytic Theory of Neurosis London 1946 p 382 and p 367 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Egosyntonic and egodystonic amp oldid 1181542434, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
