Persona

Definition

The persona is the outward-facing, socially-acceptable aspect of an individual's personality that they present to the world. It is the mask or role that a person adopts in their interactions with others, often distinct from their true inner self or psyche.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The persona is a concept developed by the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, who was one of the key Neo-Freudian thinkers.
2. The persona serves as a protective mechanism, allowing individuals to navigate social situations and fulfill societal expectations while concealing their true, complex inner selves.
3. Adler, another Neo-Freudian, emphasized the importance of the social self and how individuals develop a sense of self in relation to their interactions with others.
4. Erikson's theory of psychosocial development highlights how the development of the ego and identity is closely tied to the individual's ability to balance their persona with their authentic self.
5. Horney, a Neo-Freudian who focused on the role of culture and society in shaping personality, recognized the persona as a way for individuals to cope with feelings of anxiety and alienation.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of persona relates to the Neo-Freudian perspectives of Adler, Erikson, and Horney.
  • The concept of persona is closely linked to the Neo-Freudian theories of Adler, Erikson, and Horney. Adler emphasized the importance of the social self and how individuals develop their sense of self through their interactions with others, which is closely tied to the persona. Erikson's theory of psychosocial development highlights the need to balance the persona with the authentic self, as individuals navigate the different stages of their life. Horney recognized the persona as a coping mechanism for individuals to deal with feelings of anxiety and alienation in their cultural and social contexts, which aligns with her focus on the role of society in shaping personality.
• Analyze how the persona relates to the Jungian concepts of archetypes and the shadow.
  • In the Jungian framework, the persona is considered an archetype, representing the socially-acceptable mask that an individual presents to the world. This persona archetype is often contrasted with the shadow archetype, which represents the unconscious, repressed, and undesirable aspects of the self that the individual does not want to acknowledge or show to others. The process of individuation, as described by Jung, involves integrating these different aspects of the self, including the persona and the shadow, to achieve a more authentic and balanced personality.
• Evaluate the role of the persona in the overall development and functioning of the personality, according to the Neo-Freudian perspectives.
  • The Neo-Freudian thinkers, such as Adler, Erikson, and Horney, viewed the persona as a crucial aspect of personality development and functioning. The persona serves as a protective mechanism, allowing individuals to navigate social situations and fulfill societal expectations while concealing their true, complex inner selves. However, the Neo-Freudians also recognized the importance of balancing the persona with the authentic self, as an overemphasis on the persona can lead to feelings of alienation and a lack of self-awareness. The process of individuation, as described by Jung, involves integrating the different aspects of the self, including the persona, to achieve a more holistic and integrated personality.

Related terms

Archetypes:

Recurring patterns of behavior, personality traits, or symbols that are innate and universal, representing the fundamental building blocks of the human psyche.

Shadow: The unconscious, repressed, and often undesirable aspects of the self that an individual does not want to acknowledge or show to others.

Individuation: The process of integrating the different aspects of the self, including the persona, shadow, and other archetypes, to achieve a more authentic and balanced personality.