The imposter and ‘as-if’ personality face a conundrum whether to hide or expose the truth of who they are.

Susan E. Schwartz
Independent study
Online

Overview

Feelings of loss, limitation and curtailment, alienation, and obsolescence are prevalent yet concealed with glitzy persona/imposter images. Intimacy and being emotionally present are difficult. The imposter and ‘as-if’ person withdraws into phantasy. They are estranged from their true selves at the cost of their desire. The relationship to life outwardly appears ‘as-if’ it was complete, yet there is a haunting sense of lack and genuineness. They believe in their fraudulence. Existence is singular and they often seem narcissistic. Very possibly, we know these struggles as they are part of us.

The subjects include aging, the cultural influence$0 of social media, the role of the father, analytical transferences, and body image. The recognition of the unconscious, a hallmark of Jungian analytical psychology, is based on incorporating the dissociated personality parts into the self. It reflects the multiplicity of the psyche and the hope for rebalancing into genuineness.

>> Identifying aspects of the imposter syndrome and the ‘as-if’ personality according to the schema of Jungian analytical psychology

>> Gaining awareness of Jungian therapeutic/analytical work with this personality type

>> Exploring analytical defenses like psychic retreat, false self, and ‘as-if’ facade

>> Expanding self-knowledge rather than pathology

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