The Conscious Realm - The Masks Of The Persona
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Before we get started, we want to stress the importance that the persona is not, per say, a bad thing. As stated yesterday, it is an important dynamic that is necessary for engagement with society.
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For example, if someone is a doctor then there is a certain way to be around patients. This may be different from the true you, and does not harm because of the ability to remove the mask easily. The problems occur when either the mask becomes one’s identity (overinflated persona) or when the mask is forced upon us. This post will look into the latter...
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The persona is the social image we hope others to see us as; it is multiple “personalities” we form into depending on the situation. Masks cause us to “play a role”.
Think about this…
When you put on a Halloween costume, you may feel a bit like that person or object. You take on it’s character traits and personify it. This is the same type of process occurring with the masks of the persona.
Let’s take a look at some influencers of these masks...
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A Few Different Masks
1. Family Mask: Who your family expects you to be.
2. Social Media Mask: How you wish others online perceive you.
3. Cultural Mask: Who you believe you have to be to fit in to your culture
4. Friendship Mask: Who you are around specific friends, this mask shifts and a changes depending on the friend or group of friends.
5. Ideal Image Mask: The image of the day that society holds at a high standard. This is usually created by celebrities or media.
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You see the problem? Everyone wants a little piece of you. You shift yourself to meet an image or idea. The problem is you begin to act or behave in ways against who YOU truly are. In this, we can become disillusioned from that true self. This may cause one to identify with a certain (or multiple) masks.
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Next, we will get into this attachment to the persona.
