When a person tries to obey the unconscious, he will often, as we have seen, be unable to do just as he pleases. But equally he will often be unable to do what other people want him to do. It often happens, for instance, that he must separate from his group-from his family, his partner, or other personal connections-in order to find himself. That is why it is sometimes said that attending to the unconscious makes people antisocial and egocentric. As a rule this is not true, for there is a little-known factor that enters into this attitude: the collective {or, we could even say, social} aspect of the Self.
When individuals attempt to follow their unconscious drives, they often struggle to meet their own desires as well as the expectations of those around them. This tension can lead to a necessary distancing from family, friends, and partners, as people seek to understand and express their true selves. Consequently, this pursuit may give the impression that a person has become antisocial or self-centered.
However, labeling such individuals as egocentric overlooks an...
