The concept of ego, questions

[AnneElizabeth]

I hope that this is the right forum for this question. Its kind of an odd one, but I didn’t even know how to do a search on this via the internet, so I figured someone here might be able to help me with this question.

How it came about: I was taking some time studying the beliefs of Hinduism. I wanted to better understand what those beliefs were because I knew nothing about them and how they compare to Christianity. While reading about Hinduism, I came about something describing a scene from one of their texts and they used the term “ego”. To me, because of language translation problems, it obviously was used in a way to describe, I think, pride. However, I thought this was strange since it was an ancient text they were describing and they used the term ego which I thought only came about from something more modern, something Sigmund Freud- or one of his early successors had come up with…

So my question is, did the term “ego” exist before Sigmund Freud and the like, or has it been around before the start of 'psychology"? I just wanted to make sure I was understanding this correctly… Is the concept of “ego” something new for those peoples who are from Christian nations? Like a new term and new concept that was not really described before Mr. Freud (or his like) Or is the concept the same meaning as ‘pride’, or something similar?

When was the word and term “ego” ‘coined’, first used in the western cultures?

Is our Christian concept of pride similar or the same as “ego”? - > I.e. The phrase, “that person has an ego problem” used to describe someone who is haughty or thinks they are owed things. Etc. etc.

Thank you so much for answering if you know… I don’t and can’t seem to find the answers. I hope that what I’m asking makes sense… Its a bit difficult for me to form the question.

 

[JamalChristophr]

Ego is Latin for “I”.

***1714, as a term in metaphysics, “the self; that which feels, acts, or thinks,”

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Ego has two different meanings in common American English parlance.

It can be self-pride, which is the common usage.

Or it can be one of the three parts of the human psyche as described by Freud: id, ego, and superego.

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The ego develops in order to mediate between the unrealistic id and the external real world. It is the decision making component of personality. Ideally the ego works by reason whereas the id is chaotic and totally unreasonable.

The ego operates according to the reality principle, working out realistic ways of satisfying the id’s demands, often compromising or postponing satisfaction to avoid negative consequences of society. The ego considers social realities and norms, etiquette and rules in deciding how to behave.

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simplypsychology.org/psyche.html

 

[GEddie]

Hey!!! Leggo my ego!!!

Seriously, ego is also the Greek “I” as used in Scripture.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Ignatius]

it obviously was used in a way to describe, I think, pride. However, I thought this was strange since it was an ancient text they were describing and they used the term ego which I thought only came about from something more modern, something Sigmund Freud- or one of his early successors had come up with…

So my question is, did the term “ego” exist before Sigmund Freud and the like, or has it been around before the start of 'psychology"?
When was the word and term “ego” ‘coined’, first used in the western cultures?
.

It is Very old. It’s Greek εγώ meaning I or me. From that we get Εγωκεντρικό, which seems to be the way it’s being used in your example.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

Genesis 3:5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.

Yes, ego has been around a looooooong time.