Psychological, Social and Clinical Meaning of Ego States
Psychological Meaning: Ego states are discrete entities. Two ego states can occupy consciousness simultaneously. In one by being in the here now in touch with the external reality and in the other reliving the experience of the past; not just recalling it. Complete ego states can be permanently retained. Ego states are phenomenological entities.
Social Meaning: Ego states manifest as corresponding behaviours. They manifest variously in different places, locations and settings, at different times, under different conditions, in different situations, for a variety of reasons and during interactions with others. They are the social aspects of ego states. Shifts in ego states help a person to respond to situations at will if he has executive control. If not, he can at least be aware of the reality situation consciously.
Clinical Meaning: The therapist affording clients to exercise social control through structural analysis constitutes the clinical aspects.
The clinical condition of a patient is determined by balance between three systems. They are:
1. Cathectic capacity of each ego state;
2. The forces acting on each ego state; and
The permeability of boundaries between ego states.
