This seminar explores the fragility of self in the ‘As-If’ Personality, the popularly termed imposter syndrome. This person lives on illusions and is both the mirror and the mask, presenting in artifice. Known for a slickly contrived persona/ego image, behind it the ‘as-if’ person withdraws into fantasy. Inside is alienation and self-isolation, loneliness. The issues affect intimacy with oneself and others due to the difficulty being present. The areas include not belonging, sexual addiction, aging, the cultural influence of social media, the role of the father and mother, body image and split selves. All these are promoted by the culture of social media where reality and illusion are often blurred. The complex aspects are explored through composite clinical examples, dreams and a fairytale as we seek to ground this elusive personality type. The purpose of exploring the ‘as-if’ and imposter personality is to find what can be replenishing and regenerative to the person and culture.
Learning Objectives:
The program is designed so that participants will be able to:
- Identify aspects of the ‘as-if’ personality according to the schema of Jungian analytical psychology.
- Summarize Jungian therapeutic/analytical work with this personality type
- Outline analytical defenses like psychic retreat, false self, and ‘as-if’ for expanding the personality.
