Ego States, Self
Domains, and
the True vs.
False Self
Ivan Mandahinog
Joh Ahleah T.
Rosabal
The ego states
In 1960 Eric Berne began to develop his
Transactional Analysis model as basis for
understanding behavior. Transactional Analysis
is anchored on two notions:
1. Every person has three parts called "ego
states" in his or her personality.
2. People communicate with one another
assuming roles of any of these ego states.
Berne presented the ego
states as:
1. PARENT
The parent ego state is
the voice of authority. It
could be a comforting
“nurturing parent” voice 2. ADULT
or a “controlling/critical The Adult ego state is
parent” voice that tells the rational person. It is
what you should or the voice that speaks 3.
should not do. reasonably and know ThereCHILD
are Three child
how to assert himself or ego states.
herself.
Three Child ego states:
First is the The adaptive
natural child who child is the one
loves to play but who reacts to
is sensitive and The little the world. He or
vulnerable. professor is the she could be
curious child trying to fit in
who wants to or is rebelling
try everything. against
authority
(Berne, 2016
edition).
Domains of the
Self
University professor and author Gregg
Henriques proposed that the human self has
three related, but separable, domains.
These domains are:
1. Experiential self;
2. Private self-
conscious; and
3. Public
self/persona.
EXPERIENTIAL
SELF
Henriques (2014) described the
“experiential self” as the theater of
consciousness because it is the first to
experience its beingness (the state or
fact of existing). He added that the
experiential self is closely tied to
memory.
PRIVATE SELF-
CONSCIOUS
The “private self-conscious” can be
described as the narrator or
interpreter. It is the self that
narrates the unfolding events and
at the same time tries to make
sense of the experience.
PUBLIC SELF OR
PERSONA
The “public self or persona” is the
image you project to the public. This
is the image that interacts with
other and will influence how others
see you.
TRUE vs FALSE SELVES
The concept compares people to onions, with the true
self at the center, protected by outer layers called the
false self. These protective layers form during childhood
to help us cope with harsh experiences and are often
carried into adulthood. In 1960, psychoanalyst D.W.
Winnicott introduced the idea of the true self our
authentic core, and the false self, which we develop to
shield our true self from external pressures. While the
false self helps us survive, it can also hide our real
identity from the world.
FALSE SELF
Winnicott explained that the false self develops in early
childhood due to inadequate or unempathetic parenting. When
a child experiences rejection, intrusion, or abandonment, they
create a false self as a defense mechanism. This false self is
built on obedience and trying to meet others’ expectations,
acting like a mask to protect the vulnerable true self. If a person
has a healthy false self, they can still function well and stay
connected to their true self while adapting to social demands.
However, an unhealthy false self occurs when someone
constantly hides their real self, feels forced to fit in, and adjusts
their behavior just to be accepted, leading to a loss of
TRUE SELF
Winnicott believed that the true self develops in infancy when a
mother is positively responsive to her child’s natural,
spontaneous expressions. The true self is rooted in authentic
experiences, a sense of being alive, and unforced feelings. It
reflects creativity, spontaneity, and a deep sense of inner
wholeness. This genuine self allows people to form real
connections and be creative. If a child is supported during their
development, especially in their process of becoming an
individual, they grow up with a stable self-image, realistic views
of others, and the ability to accept both the good and bad in
themselves and others.
The End
Thank You for
Listening
