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The ego is the self.
More accurately, it's one's view
of himself and of his relationship with other individuals and
the world around him.
Of all the parts to the human psyche, the
ego is the most likely to be abnormal.
Many members of the staff of Pennsylvania prisons have egos which are, to some degree, defective. Prison guards are especially likely to have defective egos. Where one is cowardly and unsure of himself, he craves continual reassurance that he's important, strong and worthwhile. A person who feels secure in himself, who has self-esteem and self-assurance, has no need to bully others or to try to dominate them. He knows what he is. He doesn't need others to cower in order for him to feel like a man. By contrast, those who doubt themselves, need to pretend that they're important, strong and good. They must tell others how inferior the others are and how great they themselves are. It's the drug of reassurance and it's common with members of prison staffs. To many members of the prison staffs, it's very important to be obeyed. They give arbitrary orders simply to compel others to obey. They hope that that will make the other individual feel inferior and make themselves feel secure in themselves. While guards are more prone to bully, bellow and brutalize, more intelligent members of the staff such as so-called unit managers are more likely to rely on giving arbitrary orders. A prisoner may be ordered to attend a meeting or to report to some place, not because it's of any importance to the prison or the prisoner, but simply to make the one who gives the order feel important and dominant; the artificial "alpha male." Prison is the ideal workplace for those who suffer from defective egos. It gives the defects a place to dominate and degrade others. It's a "fix" for that personality disorder. Obviously psychological therapy would be a better choice, but most persons with defective egos also suffer from denial.
"Stone walls do not a prison make,
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