Why is the Ego so fragile?

Question

thumbs down mama bear. sorry but have seen a lot and have learnt that every ego has its own weak point. Can't get to all of them though, it gets scary with some ...

And anyway ... i'm not in it to destroy anyones Ego really ...

PeterD: It's one thing to kick your ego. it's another thing to have it kicked. It's the nervous system that pays the ultimate price though :-(

Answer 1

The ego is the baby that needs protection and guidance. The Id is the bad little demon that sits on your right shoulder and always gets you into mischief, and guess who gets to pay the consequences? The baby ego. Unless Superego steps in to save the day, but who wants to listen to him anyway?

Answer 2

I really don't understand some of these answers. If all these people are is their ego then I truly feel sorry for them. They have a stunted life. Sure we all have an ego but it is only the part of the Identity that has been conditioned by culture into believing it has to win in every situation. It has nothing to do with your true essence and still less to do with the soul or spirit. Although in fairness there are many people who only manifest ego. But that doesn't mean the rest of us who are more than just an ego do not exist! All egos bruise easily including my own but in actual fact most egos benefit from a good kicking now and again. Once you truly realise you are more than this having your ego duffed up occasionally becomes far less traumatic.

Answer 3

The ego is only as fragile as the individuals self esteem.
The ego is the core around which our concept of identity grows.
If we have a solid core of self worth, then our ego is not so fragile.
I think that, depending on the individuals personality,genes, and the way that they are raised as a very small person, the ego can be dependent on others for its validation....in which case, every time they get a slight to their ego,it affects them enormously because its directly attached to their deep concept of worth.Most people wouldent be concious of this fact but their reaction is extreme because they are unconciously defending their core identity against perceived attack.heavy stuff.
Then again there are others that are the opposite.They have no need of others at all and their ego is supreme.
I think both extremes are unbalanced but the bottom line is that the ego is not really that fragile.it is a very individual thing.

Answer 4

Hurting the ego is like hurting a member of one's family in that it reaches the very core of who you are, it's like pulling the plug on your self. with out a self there is no other to turn to and yet that's just what one is incline to do, trying to be who you are not is a defence mechanisum that some how act's as a shield for the ego so
as not to let anyone hurt the real you. the saying about " The hand that rocks the cradle" plays a big part in the developmental state of how strong or weak the ego will become in order to function in the process of coping with adult life . . .

Answer 5

A thought-provoking question. To a degree it seems the above answers are mainly derived from academic backgrounds that I personally have no experience in, however, it is interesting how academics approach the subject. My spin on the theory has always seen Ego as a close relation to self-esteem and self-image, that as many have said already may be formed in your formative years but does change as your life-experiences increase. For instance as a child for someone to call me names may have hurt my ego, but now I am flexible in my thinking of why the other may be saying those things and my thoughts are more pointed towards the negativity in the others life rather than my own failings, of which I am 100% aware.

In short, speaking for myself, it seems that its a balance of knowledge vs conceit. As knowledge increases and conceit diminishes, the Ego tends to be less fragile and more of actual sense of self. Ego being fragile simply because of self not knowing 100% of what the individual is capable, fragile simply through conceit.

Answer 6

Temptation: Lack of acceptance(living in the truth) & pride
Also consider that Ego (willful to sin) usually gets into practice by choice starting at a young age...to feed that ego (sin) other blown egos(sinners) are required.

Seems to me it's all about attitude .... lack of self-control and/or the obsessive need to control others by lying. You speak of it as it the mind could break into a thousand tiny pieces without any way to change that and from a victim stand point or view. Think about it - people with blown egos usually create chaos and seek only people that want the same.

Answer 7

Because the ego, like individuality, is a temporary illusion. We are all connected on a fundamental level in spite of our seeming need to separate ourselves from each other. Ego is separation. The more ego, the more distant from reality. If you're really interested in this subject, read Sartre's, Being and Nothingness.

Answer 8

I'm not sure all egos are fragile. my supposition is children who developed in an environment which was critical, demeaning, loveless, and abusive will not be able to develop a strong sense of self. As well, they will not be able to love because they didn't experience love as a child.
They have trust issues, low self esteem, lack of confidence, and have difficulty participating in relationships.

Answer 9

personally, i think that word is misinterpreted way too much. in psychology, there is an id, ego, and superego. id is what you do unconsciously, ex your hungry, you want food. the EGO, listen up now, views all the ways you can get food. ex you can steal or cook. the superego is what decides wither its a right thing to do.

so the ego gets you into trouble more than anything. understand now ?

Answer 10

we are trained from young to do as we hear and feal when rebuked
this leads to the ego being delicate
in life people are going to tease and rebuke us and past wounds resurface and are damging
we have inner gremlins that constantly deride us and gnaw away at our confidence and we end up physically ill or mentally because of the stress we endure as a result of all this.