Appropriateness and inappropriateness in self-interpretation

pp. 217-227

in: Gerhard Kreuch, Self-feeling, Berlin, Springer, 2019

Abstract

This chapter explores what an appropriate self-interpretation might look like and what role self-feeling plays in this. We can distinguish four possible combinations of self-feeling and self-interpretation. First, there is an inappropriate self-feeling that associates with a corresponding self-interpretation. The case of depression can serve as an example for this. Second, an appropriate self-feeling can associate with a non-corresponding self-interpretation. Third, we can have an inappropriate self-feeling that associates with a non-corresponding self-interpretation. The case of narcissistic personality disorder can be taken as an example. Both the second and the third combination may be called cases of self-deception. The fourth possible combination consists of an appropriate self-feeling associating with a corresponding self-interpretation. This may be called authenticity. In conclusion, three types of self-relatedness can be distinguished: "normality", "pathology", and "authenticity".