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The unconscious ego-ideal and analytic group psychotherapy

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Abstract

The theoretical position of this paper is that the essential character of the ego-ideal, a part of superego functioning, is unconscious, universal, and functions automatically. Precursors to superego development and ego-ideal formation begin at early preoedipal levels, and derivations in adult behavior contain primitive aspects. Ego-ideal is perfectionistic and impossible to obey;therefore, projection of this phenomenon as well as its activity leads to disappoinment, anger, anxiety, depression and despair. Pseudomoral injunctions frequently rationalize and disguise early primitive aspects of unconscious superego development and ego-ideal formation. These points are illustrated by clinical material, showing the therapeutic action in the group which leads to a modification of this critical, self-defeating aspect of adult functioning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Psychotherapies, USA

    Nancy Edwards Ed.D., F.A.G.P.A. (Training and Supervisory Analyst, Training Analyst, Lecturer and Guest Faculty)

  2. Institute of Religion and Health and the Blanton-Peale Graduate Institute, USA

    Nancy Edwards Ed.D., F.A.G.P.A. (Training and Supervisory Analyst, Training Analyst, Lecturer and Guest Faculty)

  3. New York University Medical School, USA

    Nancy Edwards Ed.D., F.A.G.P.A. (Training and Supervisory Analyst, Training Analyst, Lecturer and Guest Faculty)

Authors
  1. Nancy Edwards Ed.D., F.A.G.P.A.
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Additional information

Copyright, 1987, Washington Square Institute for Psychotherapy and Mental Health, which published this paper in No. 14 of the Group Psychotherapy Monograph Series, after the paper had been presented at the Fourteenth Annual Conference of the Group Psychotherapy Department, and presented by invitation at the ninth congress of the International Association of Group Psychotherapy, Zagreb, Yugoslavia, August 1986.

Dr. Edwards was formerly an Associate Supervisor and Faculty Member in the Group Department at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health.

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Edwards, N. The unconscious ego-ideal and analytic group psychotherapy. Group 11, 165–176 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01456619

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