Alter Ego

Alter Ego (Latin for another I ) is a household word.

Origin

The name goes back to the Roman politician and philosopher Cicero, who by 44 BC in Laelius de amicitia 21, 80 wrote: is, as verus amicus [ ... ] est [ ... ] tamquam old idem (, A true friend is a second self '). Cicero attacked back on a saying of Zeno. Its original formulation was taken up by Seneca the Younger and walked there to the now usual form "alter ego ". The term has become in many languages ​​dictum.

Layers of meaning

The term can an intense relationship between two people describe when a person in the other is a particularly strong role model and in a sense become a part of one's identity. In psychology, it can also be a " second self ", a " second identity " within a same call and Psyche ( shadow ). Ego and alter ego are thus two interrelated opposition sides of a split personality. In this meaning alter ego refers to a person who lives two different lives. The best-known examples from literature and popular culture of this are Mr. Hyde, Batman, Hulk, Spider -Man or Superman.

In the psychology of communication, there is a alter-ego technique, also called doubles; therapy or counseling form in which a moderator (eg communication psychologist ) for one of the participants whose possible "hidden thoughts " pronounce, thereby possibly up behind him.

In some states, equipped with great power Agents were so designated. This was common practice for example, for officials who had the right to decide over life and death.

The term " alter ego " is used in the figurative sense of artists, comedians and cabaret artists, especially when they repeatedly embody the same fictional role over longer periods. Such roles have some have a (fictitious) CV, a different look and a different character. Examples of this are the comedian Hape Kerkeling, the Horst Schlämmer embodies among other alter ego, and Dr. Kurt Eastern Railway, which was personified by Willi Resetarits. The musicians of the group Kiss served until 1983 Age for their entire public relations egos, as they always occurred only in costume and make-up and tried to hide their true identities from the public.

The term alter ego is partly related to the concept of the avatar. An avatar is an artificially created or artistic person, or a graphical representative of a real person in the virtual world, for example in a computer game or a chat in cyberspace.

Alter Ego ( the same as " double " ) is in the process of psychodrama a name for the deputy of the protagonist. The " double " is, if it is necessary, on behalf of the protagonists in the scene and reflected it. This can now look at from the outside and assess his own reactions better or can even show alternatives, the situation shown by him.