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> Adopting an alter ego is an extreme form of ‘self-distancing’, which involves taking a step back from our immediate feelings to allow us to view a situation m

> Adopting an alter ego is an extreme form of ‘self-distancing’, which involves taking a step back from our immediate feelings to allow us to view a situation more dispassionately. What's the difference between this and repressing feelings, emotions and basically not dealing with it ? Does it work only in short lived moment (a presentation, a concert, etc.) and can't be used 24/7 (or even less) ?

moduspol 6y ago
I don't think it's necessarily repressing feeling and emotions or not dealing with them. This is the same kind of thing I've heard from meditation advocates. If you're the boss at a company and an employee shows up late for the third time this week, you would be completely (morally) justified in being frustrated, responding sharply, and/or lecturing that employee on why being punctual is important. But there's a good chance that those responses do not positively affect your own goals. None of those things are likely to make the employee be more punctual, and an off-the-cuff response could lead the employee to act out or quit, which will just make things worse. So it's better to understand your subconscious feelings (being frustrated about the employee being late), but be sufficiently grounded to consciously respond in a way that benefits you (or at least doesn't work against you).
shoes_for_thee 6y ago
This would be dissociation. It would be different from repression, but not any less neurotic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_mechanism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_mechanism
- mleonhard 6y ago
  Dissociation is a defence action. I think it could be quite helpful if used intentionally. If it becomes a habit, it could cause problems. Unintentional and habitual use of defence mechanisms leads to negative consequences. This is what people think of when they use the term "neurotic."

moduspol 6y ago

I don't think it's necessarily repressing feeling and emotions or not dealing with them. This is the same kind of thing I've heard from meditation advocates. If you're the boss at a company and an employee shows up late for the third time this week, you would be completely (morally) justified in being frustrated, responding sharply, and/or lecturing that employee on why being punctual is important. But there's a good chance that those responses do not positively affect your own goals. None of those things are likely to make the employee be more punctual, and an off-the-cuff response could lead the employee to act out or quit, which will just make things worse. So it's better to understand your subconscious feelings (being frustrated about the employee being late), but be sufficiently grounded to consciously respond in a way that benefits you (or at least doesn't work against you).

shoes_for_thee 6y ago

This would be dissociation. It would be different from repression, but not any less neurotic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_mechanism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_mechanism

mleonhard 6y ago
Dissociation is a defence action. I think it could be quite helpful if used intentionally. If it becomes a habit, it could cause problems. Unintentional and habitual use of defence mechanisms leads to negative consequences. This is what people think of when they use the term "neurotic."