The Origin of Morality

Psychoanalytic theory attributes the development of morality largely to the role of the superego, as the internalization of authority that helps the ego live within the constraints of reality. Conscience is born when the infant is able to imagine the feelings of another, to see that his actions have an impact on others, and to experience concern. This is the attainment of the depressive position in which good and bad are no longer split and kept separate from one another but coexist within the same object, just as the child can experience both love and hate towards his object. While having a conscience and doing the ‘right’ thing reflect larger group norms that develop from childhood, is there nevertheless an idea of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ that precedes the tenets of the group? This paper proposes that our sense of morality is based on our initial perception of ourselves, as mirrored by the observing ego, and the degree to which our experience of reality is validated internally. The idea of ‘being true to oneself’ is the fundamental cornerstone of moral sensibility.
Source: British Journal of Psychotherapy - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research