How do you define ego?

Question

First of all thank you for visiting this question. Ego, as we know can be defined in many ways. Some define it as pride or something similar to it. What are your views? Please put forth your views and opinions in detail. This question is a part of a research and hence it is an open ended question. I thank everyone in advance. Good luck to you all.

Answer 1

ego can be defined as the central core to the human mind. natural instinct is self preservation. self preservation can (and often does) lead to putting oneself above others. when this happens, that person is considered egotistical, and usually arrogant. however, humans are one of the few species who doesn't always look out for "number one". in this, our capability of higher emotion, ie love, is what separates us from many animals. most "lesser creatures" follow natural selection, but humanity has moved away from that.
humans have developed a heightened sense of emotion and responsibility toward others, including those not of our species.

ok, back to topic.
ego is a very healthy thing for people to have, to a point. it is what keeps you alive on a very basic level. without it, you would have no desire to live, and no desire to continue the species. of course, people with an over-inflated sense of self can be dangerous as well. many sociopaths are classified as having an exaggerated ego, to the point where they feel no empathy at all for anything beyond themselves.

to use freud's definition, ego is in the center of the balance of the mind, with id and superego on either side. complete id is being apathetic to anything involving yourself, and complete superego is being apathetic to anything NOT involving yourself. all people are located somewhere along this line, and the closer you are to the middle, the healthier for you and your peers.

i could go on much longer, but its time for sleep now

Answer 2

Define Ego

Answer 3

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RE:
How do you define ego?
First of all thank you for visiting this question. Ego, as we know can be defined in many ways. Some define it as pride or something similar to it. What are your views? Please put forth your views and opinions in detail. This question is a part of a research and hence it is an open ended question....

Answer 4

1. Ego as used by Freud was the buffering part of the personality who keeps close tabs on the ID and Supergo, so as not to let them go haywire with your personality.

2. Ego as used popularly is the sense of self-importance that we all feel. Some people have overbearing egos and delusions that they are far more important than they really are. Some people have substandard egos, and usually have very low self-esteem.

All of us have an ego, but it is good to keep it in check with some humility.

Sincerely,
A Psych Instructor

Answer 5

Ego can be classified in different ways. One is pride, self esteem, that sort and another is foolish pride and superiority complex.

Ego is always harmful to humans. It should not be developed so that a person may not know or he may be blinded to the things which should be right or wrong. He may do wrong things by cultivating ego.

Hope this helps. If you want to know more, IM me. This topic needs proper discussion, maybe I can be of more help.
Good luck.

Answer 6

In my opinion our ego is our need to be right or be the best at something and nothing else matters but that. Ego in moderation can be a good thing but too much ego can make you a moron that no one in their right mind would really want to be around.

Answer 7

Ego is to me a psycho servo motor that is hardwired to what you know about yourself both consciously and subconsciously. Successes, failures, fears, loves, retained compliments and insults, perceptions, insights, misunderstandings, physical abuse and pain, almost exclusively learned or experienced behavior of all kinds all integrated together in your mind. Each person avoids pain and pursues pleasure based on the ego's input into your current predicament. Makes you walk and talk a certain way. Gives you the cofidence to address a group of people or approach an attractive member of the opposite sex. Lets some people skydive while others have to have both feet touching the ground. Ego is what you know about yourself and its about learned behavior.

Answer 8

Though I'm not entirely committed to this answer, and I don't think it is the full definition of ego entirely, but I've always felt that the ego is that piece of us that is still connected to our animal self, that which is often fed and fueled by our natural impulses, but not governed by reason. I have two dogs, both very primal in their nature. They are very stubborn, and often act on what appear to be egoic stimulai. Now isn't that funny how this answer completely contradicts the question I posted on your blog????
*shaking head* "sigh"

Answer 9

To me, in some way the ego is your sub-conscious yet it is a part of the life force that at times can protect one from familiar situations. They say, to find a higher path is to put aside your ego, but to me to understand oneself is to understand all that is humanity and at times one loves to have their ego fed. Ego is just apart of the human conscious, just as love, empathy and other emotions are.

Answer 10

I think that the ego is a particular portion of a human being's mind, which in turn is a particular portion of a human being. It is the most commonly encountered 'manipulative logical' part of the human mind, but as it is demonstrably not in total control of itself then there must logically be portions of the mind that are not part of the ego.