How the Ego Survives: Neurobehavioural Evidence of Mechanisms of Maintenance and Change

In this course, Dr. Bruno Cayoun, Director of the MiCBT Institute, acknowledges the low utility in clinical practice of the main psychological theories of self and identity because they are typically philosophical, with few tools to address daily problems. However, a useful conceptualisation of self is important, given that the meaning of our sense of self has fascinated us for most of human history. Moreover, the perception of self is often implicated in mental health conditions, as well as interpersonal and societal conflicts. Therapists need to understand the nature and mechanisms of the self when addressing chronic conditions, because chronicity generally leads to identification with one’s continual or repeated suffering, which in turn affects one’s sense of identity. Accordingly, Dr Cayoun introduces a conceptualisation of self which is based on neuroscientific evidence. It demonstrates how the sense of self is maintained and updated over time through the interaction of mind and body, and also offers a pragmatic way of understanding and addressing self-related issues that clients experience.