Ego Analysis Division II Fate Analysis Teachings.

Translated From Lipot Szondi, Ich-Analyse [Ego Analysis] by Arthur C. Johnston © 2008 By Arthur C. Johnston, PhD Please Observe: The copyright of this article (in German or in English) belongs to the Szondi Institute and to Dr. Arthur C. Johnston. This means you may not duplicate this article without their permissions. DIVISION II ELEMENTARY EGO ANALYSIS The Four Elementary Functions of the Ego Fate psychology has expanded outward the boundaries of ego concepts further beyond the recognized circumstances of the Freudian double concept of “ego and superego” and beyond the Jungian terms “ego and self.” The phenomena “ego” is expanded to a total concept and to a chief concept of autonomous “global” ego, whereby the concepts “superego” and “self” are interpreted as part concepts for particular part functions of these “global egos.” Fate Analysis does not do this because it denies a particular function of a superego and the self but because it maintains the view that the function of the critical superego as a conscience and also as the conscious and unconscious integrated activity of the self always represents only part functions of a whole ego, which Fate Analysis calls pontifex oppositorum [bridge between opposites]. Freud recognized this state of affairs very well when he described motive, which moved him to coin the concept of the superego; he expressly emphasized that the superego represents only a “stage” and only a “differentiation within the ego.” It is about that indisputable and that Freud therefore has not placed the superego under or above the concept of the ego.1 The censor function of the superego and also the integration of the conscious and unconscious through the self are both only partial functions of the autonomous global ego that as the center plays the role of the pontifex oppositorum. After setting up the opposites with one another and with the ego concept, we must consider first “in isolation” the individual functions of the ego in order then to be able to understand correctly those segments of the complete function of this court. We distinguish the following unconscious ego functions: I. Elementary ego functions: 1. Projection. 2. Inflation. 3. Introjection. 4. Negation. II. Dialectical ego functions, which serve the defense from the inner ego dangers. Inner defense activity of the ego: 1. The between-factorial ego dialectic: the dialectic between ego expansion [Erweiterung] (ego diastole) and ego contraction [Einengung] (ego systole) 2. The double factorial ego dialectic: a. The inner dialectic of ego expansion. b. The inner dialectic of ego contraction. 3. Dialectic between foreground ego and background ego. The complementary ego fate. III. The ego-drive dialectic. The outer defense activity of the ego. The defense mechanisms. IV. The character-building function of the egos. V. The choice-forming function of the egos. VI. The dream-forming function of the egos. VII. The belief function of the egos. We begin here with the representation of the four elementary functions of the ego. In theory, the ego stands -- as a stalwart ship captain -- on the command bridge of the soul, from where it should bridge over all opposite pairs. In reality, this is, however, not so. Mostly the ego appears in the life of the individual as an unreliable captain, who often abandons his high lookout position and actually in fact has never undertaken it. Though these position changes, the ego takes different one-sided, unilateral positions and lingers nearer this one and nearer another at the opposite pole of the soul. With that, the ego is incapable to fulfill its task as pontifex oppositorum in all possible trend directions of opposites at a distance, deliberately and reflectively. In relationship to the opposite pair “conscious-unconscious” that means that the ego takes care to transfer its central “command position” at one time near to the pole of consciousness and at another time nearer to the pole of the unconscious. Under this aspect, depth psychology speaks of a “conscious” and an “unconscious” ego. Correctly, this means: The ego lingers one time in consciousness and another time in the unconscious. If the ego -- as we assume it to be -- is in fact the manifold, multiple axes of the soul, on which is attached a pole of consciousness and another pole of unconsciousness, then we must affirm: The being of the ego in consciousness means: The conscious ego and not at all consciousness. The being of the ego in unconsciousness means: the unconscious ego is not however the unconscious itself. The ego as the pontifex oppositorum fulfills its captain role in the central position of the soul; thus, it stands above consciousness and at the same time also over the deep waters of the unconscious. In this case -- and only in this one -- may the ego fulfill its particular task: that is, to function as the bridge between being conscious and being unconscious. If the ego, however, lingers more in the vicinity of the unconscious or sinks itself completely into the unconscious, then one is entitled rightly to speak of “a driven ego.” From the standpoint of our ego teachings, the expression “the driven ego” signifies only this: That the ego abandons its central position as the pontifex oppositorum and has given itself to the unconscious. The ego as likewise driven should therefore signify for us conclusively those unconscious elementary functions through which the ego in unconsciousness exercises four specific functions. These are: Projection, inflation, introjection, and negation. We derive these four ego tendencies from the original participation. 1. Projection. p- is the earliest, most primitive unconscious elementary striving of the ego, the power and might of the unconscious to transfer one’s being to an object of the outer world. The unconscious end striving of each projection is being one and the same with the object, thus the participation drive. 2. Inflation, p+ is the unconscious elementary striving of the ego after doubling, after the original being-double essence, after the “two sexual essence,” and after uniting in oneself man and woman. The unconscious drive for each inflation is the striving after completeness: that is, after being everything. The doubling and perfection originate in the soul through making conscious the unconscious mental opposites. 3. Introjection. k+ is the unconscious original elementary striving of the ego after incorporation, after taking possession, after assimilation of the valued object and valued representations of the outer and inner worlds. The unconscious end goal of each introjection is the striving after having everything. 4. Negation. k- is the unconscious elementary striving of the ego after renunciation, negation, and repression of definite demands, representations, and experiences. The unconscious end goal of each negation is the disimagination of all ideals of being and having, thus destruction. The unconscious tendencies after being one and the same with the object, after being everything, after having everything, and after denying everything and destroying everything are the four unconscious elementary functions of the ego. These make man indebted on the one hand so that he can be a social and human being; on the other hand, however, that he may destroy himself and the objects of the world. Then: The result of projection is the bodily and spiritual pairing and union between persons; thus, the couple, family, group, clan, people and social formations on the whole. The result of inflation is the creative impulse after perfection by means of religion, art, poetry, and research. As the social result of introjection, we consider all that which acts as material and intellectual possessions and thus function as “capital investment” in character, in profession, in knowledge, and in skills and as capital of material goods in the life of the individual and society. The important social result of negation has a double sense: at one time, the social adaptation to reality and at another time, destruction. The degree of negation distinguishes whether adaptation or destruction steps in. At the earliest beginning, the function of the ego consists exclusively of the function of participation. And only because being one with the mother, the world, and everything is impossible over a period of time, the ego is compelled to live its power in being in other being forms. Thus occur in our opinion secondarily projection, inflation, introjection, and negation.2 End Notes [1] Freud, S.: Ges. Schr. [Collected Writings], Bd. VI, p. 372. 2 For details see the third part: Die Partizipationstheorie der Wahnbildung [The Participation Theory of Choice Formation].

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