Ego Ideal
In Freudian psychoanalysis, the Ego ideal (German: Ichideal) is the inner image of oneself as one wants to become. It consists of “the individual’s conscious and unconscious images of what he would like to be, patterned after certain people whom … he regards as ideal.”
In French psychoanalysis, the concept of the ego ideal is distinguished from that of the ideal ego (German: Idealich). According to Jacques Lacan, it is the ideal ego, generated at the time of the infant’s identification with its own unified specular image, that becomes the foundation for the ego’s constant striving for perfection. In contrast, the ego ideal is when the ego views itself from that imaginary point of perfection, seeing its normal life as vain and futile.
The Ideal-Ego - YouTube
The Ideal Ego and Ego Ideal in Lacanian Theory
The ideal ego is the imaginary self-image we have of ourselves, while the ego ideal is the symbolic point from which we judge and observe ourselves. These concepts, derived from Freud and reworked by Lacan, help explain how we construct our identity and interact with others in the symbolic order.
Actionable steps or examples:
- Reflect on your own ideal ego: How do you see yourself ideally?
- Identify your ego ideal: What standards or expectations do you measure yourself against?
- Observe how you perform for others: Are you staging your existence for a disembodied gaze?
“Every human creature has two Souls, one looking from the inside outward and the other from outside side in.”
“The ideal ego is the illusionary consistency of the ego through the specular image… the ego ideal is the symbolic point from which that consistency is ratified.”
Reflective questions:
- How does your self-image change when you’re alone versus in public?
- In what ways do you perform your identity for others, even when they’re not physically present?
- How does social media affect your ideal ego and ego ideal?
Mirror Stage, Symbolic Order, Lacanian Psychoanalysis, Identity Formation
graph TD
A[Subject] --> B[Ideal Ego]
A --> C[Ego Ideal]
B <--> |Dialectical Relationship| C
B --> D[Imaginary Order]
C --> E[Symbolic Order]
E --> F[Big Other]
F --> G[Disembodied Gaze]
G --> C
B --> H[Self-Image]
C --> I[Self-Judgment]
Shame vs. Guilt in Contemporary Capitalism
Žižek argues that in contemporary capitalism, there’s an inversion of traditional notions of shame and guilt. Shame, once associated with exposure to others, now becomes a means of proving our existence. Guilt, rather than stemming from internal moral judgment, now arises from not enjoying life sufficiently.
Examples or analogies:
- Social media posts as a means of proving one’s existence and enjoyment
- Luxury experiences as a way to observe oneself enjoying life
- The pressure to “live your best life” as a new form of guilt
“Within contemporary capitalism, the super ego injunction is you must enjoy, you must live your best life, you must be happy and you must be free, and if you fail to do so then you are worthy of scorn and punishment.”
Reflective questions:
- How does the pressure to enjoy life affect your daily decisions?
- In what ways do you perform happiness or success for others?
- How has social media changed your relationship with shame and guilt?
Late Stage Capitalism, Social Media Culture, Performative Happiness, Consumer Culture
The Mask as the True Self
Lacan and Žižek propose that our true self is not hidden behind a mask, but is the mask itself. The idea of an authentic core beneath our social performances is itself an illusion created by the mask. True freedom comes not from rejecting the symbolic order, but from fully embracing and mastering our role within it.
Example from the transcript:
The protagonist in “The Looking Glass” who maintains his sense of self by performing for his own reflection in the mirror.
“If one were to take off one’s mask there would be nothing underneath, a void. It is precisely the mask that creates the retroactive illusion that there is a true authentic core of identity underneath it.”
Reflective questions:
- How do your various social roles contribute to your sense of self?
- In what ways might your search for an “authentic self” be limiting you?
- How can you embrace and master the roles you play in different contexts?
Authenticity, Social Roles, Self-Actualization, Performance Theory
Hegelian Idealism and Lacanian Psychoanalysis
Žižek draws parallels between Lacanian psychoanalysis and Hegelian idealism. Both suggest that truth is not hidden behind appearances, but is inherent in the form of appearance itself. This challenges the traditional metaphysical divide between essence and appearance, suggesting that subjective reason is not a barrier to truth, but the very process by which truth emerges.
“Hegel essentially makes the Lacanian wager… that the truth lies not beyond the veil of appearances but within the appearance as such.”
Reflective questions:
- How does this perspective challenge your understanding of truth and reality?
- In what ways might your search for deeper meaning be overlooking the significance of surface appearances?
- How can this philosophical approach be applied to everyday life and self-understanding?
Hegelian Dialectics, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Mind, Truth and Illusion
Machado de Assis
Machado de Assis’s short story “The Looking Glass” serves as a perfect illustration of Lacanian concepts, particularly the ideal ego and ego ideal. The protagonist’s experience of losing his sense of self when alone and regaining it by performing for his own reflection demonstrates the interplay between self-image and the gaze of the Other. His stories often explore complex psychological concepts through irony and intellectual exploration.
“I really hope that this will serve as an introduction… to what to my mind is one of the most brilliant writers to have ever lived.”
“His psychological realism, his irony, his… intellectualization of the short story format by means of which he explores contradictory and counterintuitive ideas makes him to my mind one of the most compelling modernist writers.”
Example from the story:
The naval officer dressing in full uniform to see himself clearly in the mirror, thereby staging his existence for himself.
“In order not to go mad during the prolonged period of isolation in this mansion, he decides every day to put on his uniform, sit in front of the mirror and watch himself read, write, have breakfast, etc.”
Reflective questions:
- How can literature help us understand complex psychological concepts?
- In what ways does Machado de Assis’s approach to storytelling challenge or expand your understanding of modernist literature?
- How might reading authors from different cultural backgrounds enrich your perspective on universal human experiences?
- How do you maintain your sense of self when isolated from others?
- In what ways do you “perform” your identity even when alone?
- How does your environment or clothing affect your self-perception?
Brazilian Literature, Modernist Literature, Psychological Fiction, Literary Analysis, Psychological Realism
Literature and Psychoanalysis, Self-perception, Isolation and Identity, Performance of Self
Enjoyment as Ethical Duty in Contemporary Society
Žižek argues that in contemporary society, enjoyment has become an ethical duty. This inverts the traditional Freudian idea of sublimation, where desires are repressed for productive ends. Instead, we are now compelled to fully embrace our desires, leading to a new form of alienation where we feel guilty for not enjoying enough.
Examples:
- The pressure to have and document exciting experiences on social media
- The anxiety of “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out)
- The commodification of self-care and wellness as mandatory pursuits
“The ultimate fear that the subject has is that he is not fully accessing his enjoyment, hence why the contemporary alienated individual has everything in principle to be happy, is nominally free, and yet remains depressed.”
Reflective questions:
- How does the societal pressure to enjoy life affect your mental health?
- In what ways do you feel compelled to prove that you’re living a fulfilling life?
- How can we balance the pursuit of enjoyment with other aspects of a meaningful life?
Societal Pressure, Modern Alienation, Commodification of Experience, Happiness Industry
The Dialectical Relationship Between Ideal Ego and Ego Ideal
The ideal ego (imaginary self-image) and ego ideal (symbolic point of self-observation) are in a dialectical relationship. The ego ideal provides the framework through which the ideal ego is maintained and validated. This relationship is crucial for understanding how we construct and maintain our sense of self within the symbolic order.
“The ego ideal is therefore the symbolic point from which the consistency, the illusionary consistency of the ego is ratified.”
Reflective questions:
- How do your personal ideals (ego ideal) shape the way you see yourself (ideal ego)?
- In what ways does external validation influence your self-image?
- How might recognizing this dialectical relationship change your approach to personal growth?
Dialectical Thinking, Self-concept Formation, Psychological Development, Social Validation