The persona is one of Carl Jung's most well-known concepts, representing the social mask that we put on. We all embody different masks in different settings, as it is our way to adapt to the demands of society, playing an important part in shaping our social role and in how we deal with other people. But, it also has its dangers.   

We will be discussing the dangers of concealing our true self. We may use the persona to help us conceal our vulnerabilities and other parts that we do not want to reveal about ourselves, or we may excessively identify with the persona.  

The persona prevents us from what Jung considered the most important task in our lives, the process of individuation, bringing one closer to the Self.

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⌛ Timestamps

0:00 Introduction: The Persona

1:23 Stages of the Persona

3:16 Being Unconscious of The Persona

4:57 Excessive Identification with The Persona

6:02 The Persona and The Self (Individuation)

7:10 The Persona and Bad Faith

9:10 The Persona and The Collective Unconscious