The ego-ideal, the leader and analytic group psychotherapy

Abstract

The theoretical position of this paper is that the essential character of the ego-idea~ a part of superego functioningThe concept of the unconscious ego-ideal appears to be one of a foreigner to the field of group psychology. This is ironic when one considers the fact that Freud emphasized its importance in "Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego" (1921). His very last line reads, "Neuroses are extraordinarily rich in content, for they embrace all possible relations between the ego and the object-both those in which the object is retained and others in which it is abandoned or erected inside the ego itself-and also the conflicting relations between the ego and the ego-ideal." He compared the states of, "being in love, of hypnosis, of group formation, and of neuroses" {p. 142}. His inferences and conclusions are that the hypnotist and the group leader, i.e., "the object," are put in place of the ego-ideal. He sees the group as magnifying this process by adding an identification with other individuals who all originally had the same relationship with "the object" or a leader or leaders. The idealization of the leader is increased by the simultaneous projections onto the leader of the group members' ego-ideals.

The unconscious ego-ideal and analytic group psychotherapy

“…Thus, this inner institution has an intimate relation with the person's aggression, part of this is uncurbed and redirected inward. Moral concepts which are conscious and added at a later stage of development compose the individual's conscious knowledge of right and wrong and seem identical to the unconscious ego-ideal (Bergler, 1952;Edwards, 1983).…”

“…This paper will focus on this phenomenon in analytic group therapy, its appearance as an entity, and therapeutic attempts to bring the ego and the unconscious ego-ideal into a more realistic and harmonious balance. In a former paper, I stressed the important role of the group leader in this process (Edwards, 1983); now I wish to attend more exclusively to the group members' contributions to this process.The theoretical position of my presentation is that the essential character of the ego-ideal, a part of super-ego functioning, is unconscious and functions Copyright, …”

To ?a revised model of internalization derived from group psychology,? by Stephen M. Saravay, Stanley Grossman, and Erroll Dendy

“…Later, certain group theorists, Glatzer (1962), Durkin (1964), and Edwards (1983), for example, constructed their understanding of the dynamics of change and the impact of the group upon the individual in terms that include intrapsychic issues. Later, certain group theorists, Glatzer (1962), Durkin (1964), and Edwards (1983), for example, constructed their understanding of the dynamics of change and the impact of the group upon the individual in terms that include intrapsychic issues.…”