Imposter Syndrome and The 'As-If' Personality in Analytical Psychology: The Fragility of Self

This book explores the 'as-if personality through the lens of Jungian analytical psychology, highlighting how the same forces that can disturb personal development can also lead to expressing and relating with one's more complete self. It describes how individuals with an 'as-if personality face a dilemma between hiding or exposing their true selves and how the analytic container can provide a place of growth. The author uses clinical examples to illustrate issues such as not belonging, sexual addiction, aging, social media influence, father roles, and body image challenges. The book incorporates various psychoanalytical and philosophical frameworks to reflect the multiplicity of the psyche and is accessible to general readers and relevant to professional analysts, therapists, clinicians, and social workers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 218 pages
Publication date: 26 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the concept of the 'as-if personality through the lens of Jungian analytical psychology, shedding light on how the same forces that can hinder personal development in relationships, society, and culture also serve as a catalyst for expressing and connecting with one's more authentic self. The book explores individuals who embody an 'as-if personality as facing a dilemma between hiding or revealing their true selves. It portrays the analytic container as a transformative space, fostering growth for both individuals and society, as well as the self and the other. Through a rich array of clinical examples spanning diverse cultures, contexts, and personal experiences, the author vividly depicts individuals navigating feelings of alienation, sexual addiction, aging, the impact of social media, the role of the father, and body image challenges. These issues highlight the profound recognition of the unconscious, a central aspect of Jungian analytical psychology, which incorporates dissociated others into the wholeness of selfhood. The theories of French psychoanalysts Andre Green on absence and the negative, Julia Kristeva on abjection, French philosopher Jacques Derrida on Narcissus and Echo, and American philosopher Judith Butler on precarity enrich the Jungian analytical framework to encompass the multifaceted nature of the psyche.

Written in accessible and engaging language, Imposter Syndrome and the 'As-If Personality in Analytical Psychology: The Fragility of Self appeals to a broad audience, including general readers interested in psychoanalysis and philosophy, as well as professional analysts, therapists, clinicians, and social workers. By seamlessly interweaving various psychoanalytical and philosophical frameworks, this book offers valuable insights and practical applications for those seeking to understand and navigate the complexities of the human psyche.

Weight: 362g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032324807