The Curse of the Self: Self-Awareness, Egotism, and the Quality of Human Life

摘要: Human beings have the ability to be self reflective, or think consciously about themselves, which allows them, among other things, imagine themselves in future, anticipate consequences of their behaviour, plan ahead, and take steps improve themselves. Despite these obvious advantages, self-reflection comes at a high price. Most people occasionally realize that it causes problems, such as when they cannot stop dwelling on some past failure future worry, ego fuels conflicts with people, mental chatter keeps them awake night. Yet few neither how profoundly lives are affected by self-reflection, nor frequently this inner interferes success, pollutes relationships others, undermines happiness. The apparatus enables us self-reflective is same one responsible for most personal social difficulties we face individuals species. egocentric, egotistical blinds own shortcomings, leads conflict.Self-reflection distorts peoples perceptions world, leading make bad decisions based faulty information. By allowing ruminate what might happen also conjures up great deal suffering form depression, anxiety, anger, jealousy, negative emotions. A unhappiness, addictions, overeating, domestic violence, due inability exert control over thoughts behaviour. This lack has led visionaries throughout history proclaim egoic stymies our quest spiritual fulfilment immoral Is possible direct reflection way will minimize disadvantages maximize advantages? there affect through self-reflection? In volume Mark Leary explores problems created capacity drawing upon psychology behavioural sciences, offers insights into can minimized.