This paper integrates phenomenological and sociological approaches with the more orthodox psychoanalytic ideas in an attempt to resolve some of the present inconsistencies in ego psychology. The ego as agent is conceptually equivalent to the ego as object; behavior is designed to realize one's self-representations. However, the representation of the self derives its meaning from the representation of the other person and the relation of the self with him. Indeed, the self-representation frequently acts merely as a qualifier for behavior that is ascribed, often unconsciously, to an introjected other person. Therefore the ego is finally defined as the resultant of various schemata of self in relation to other. This idea of a multiple structure of the ego is further discussed, and it is applied to problems of character structure, defenses, and emotions.

AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT