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Adult life Quote by Glenn Ward

“The child (mis)recognizes itself as a whole entity for the first time. It sees an image of itself as a unified person, an image which promises for the child that it will soon achieve full co-ordination of its body. The incoherent ‘hommelette’ sees an image of itself as an independent being and…” quote by Glenn Ward
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““The child (mis)recognizes itself as a whole entity for the first time. It sees an image of itself as a unified person, an image which promises for the child that it will soon achieve full co-ordination of its body. The incoherent ‘hommelette’ sees an image of itself as an independent being and learns to identify with this image. This is when the ego (the sense of yourself as an individual) is formed. Thus, your sense of self is fundamentally bound up with an ‘exterior’ image. Instead of simply coming from within, your identity is formed out of a situation in which you see yourself for the first time from the outside. For Lacan this means that alienation and division are built into your identity from the outset. The result in adult life is that you are in a constant but fruitless state of desire for some mythical inner unity and stability to match the unity and stability you thought you saw in your childhood reflection. We spend our lives trying (and failing) to make ourselves ‘whole’.””

Glenn Ward

About This Quote

Source Book: The Ego and the Other, 2015

The self is formed by seeing oneself reflected externally, creating a lasting split between internal desire for unity and the external image that shaped identity.

In simple terms: Self emerges from external reflection, causing lifelong yearning for inner wholeness.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the external origins of your ego.

Themes

identity psychoanalysis ego formation desire selfhood

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

philosophical psychological

When to use this quote

  • childhood development
  • psychotherapy
  • personal growth
  • identity work
  • self‑reflection

Key Concepts

Lacanian theory mirror stage alienation division

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does your early self‑image affect current goals?
  • Can you integrate external and internal selves?
A Different Perspective

The model may oversimplify complex neurobiological and cultural influences on identity formation.

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