Editing Alter ego

{{Short description|Alternative self or personality distinct from the actual identity}}
{{redirect-multi|2|Double life|Alternate self|identical stranger|doppelgänger|the concept in African-American studies|double consciousness|other uses|Double Life (disambiguation){{!}}Double Life|and|Alter Ego (disambiguation)}}
{{Original research|date=January 2022}}
An '''alter ego''' ([[Latin]] for "other I") means an alternate [[Self (psychology)|self]], which is believed to be distinct from a person's normal or true original [[Personality psychology|personality]]. Finding one's alter ego will require finding one's other self, one with a different personality. Additionally, the altered states of the ego may themselves be referred to as ''alterations''. 

A distinct meaning of ''alter ego'' is found in the [[Literary criticism|literary analysis]] used when referring to fictional literature and other narrative forms, describing a key [[Character (arts)|character]] in a story who is perceived to be intentionally representative of the work's author (or creator), by oblique similarities, in terms of [[psychology]], behavior speech, or thoughts, often used to convey the author's thoughts. The term is also sometimes, but less frequently, used to designate a [[Hypothesis|hypothetical]] "twin" or "best friend" to a character in a story. Similarly, the term ''alter ego'' may be applied to the role or persona taken on by an actor<ref>{{cite book|title=Psychology and Performing Arts | author=Glenn Daniel Wilson |year=1991|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=90-265-1119-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3shEzj0wccgC&q=%22Alter+ego%22+psychology&pg=PA272}}</ref> or by other types of performers.

== Origin ==
[[Cicero]] coined the term as part of his philosophical construct in 1st-century [[Ancient Rome|Rome]], but he described it as "a second self, a trusted friend".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/alter+ego|title=Alter Ego|year=2009|work=Collins English Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 10th Edition|publisher=William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.|access-date=13 January 2013}}</ref> {{Citation missing|date=May 2025}}

The existence of "another self" was first fully recognized in the 18th century, when [[Anton Mesmer]] and his followers used [[hypnosis]] to separate the alter ego.<ref>J Haule, ''Jung in the 21st Century II'' (2010) p. 88</ref> These experiments showed a behavior pattern that was distinct from the personality of the individual when he was in the [[waking state]] compared with when he was under hypnosis. Another character had developed in the altered state of [[consciousness]] but in the same body.<ref>{{cite book|last=Pedersen|first=David|title=Cameral Analysis: A Method of Treating the Psychoneuroses Using Hypnosis|year=1994|publisher=Routledge|location=London, U.K.|isbn=0-415-10424-6|page=20|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U8GkPGW8KyYC&q=psychological+phenomenon+of+the+Alter+ego&pg=PA20}}</ref>

[[Sigmund Freud]], throughout his career, would appeal to such instances of dual consciousness to support his thesis of the unconscious.<ref>Freud, S., ''Five Lectures on Psycho-Analysis'' (Penguin 1995) p. 21</ref> He considered that "We may most aptly describe them as cases of a splitting of the mental activities into two groups, and say that the same consciousness turns to one or the other of these groups alternately".<ref>Freud, S. ''On Metapsychology'' (PFL 11) p. 172</ref> Freud considered the roots of the phenomenon of the alter ego to be in the [[Narcissism|narcissistic stage]] of early childhood.<ref>Freud, S., 'The Uncanny' ''Imago'' V (1919) p. 41</ref> [[Heinz Kohut]] would identify a specific need in that early phase for mirroring, by another which resulted later in what he called the "twinship or alter ego transference".<ref>Kohut, H., ''How Does Analysis Cure?'' (London 1984) p. 192-3</ref>

==In popular culture and fiction==
[[File:Jekyll-mansfield.jpg|thumb|upright|Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde]]
[[File:Fred Terry in The Scarlet Pimpernel crop.jpg|right|upright|thumb|[[Fred Terry]] as the Scarlet Pimpernel (alter ego of Sir Percy Blakeney) in the 1905 [[West End theatre|West End]] production of ''[[The Scarlet Pimpernel]]'']]
*The title characters in [[Robert Louis Stevenson]]'s thriller ''[[Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde]]'' represent an exploration of the concept that good and evil exist within one person, constantly at war.<ref>I. Ousby ed., ''The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English'' (Cambridge 1995) p. 263</ref> Edward Hyde represents the doctor's other self, a [[psychopathy|psychopath]] who is unrestrained by the conventions of civilized society, and who shares a body with the doctor. The names (Jekyll and Hyde) since become synonymous with a split personality or an ''alter ego'' that can overpower the original self.
*In the novel ''[[The Count of Monte Cristo]]'' by [[Alexandre Dumas]], the main character [[Edmond Dantes]], after escaping from the [[Chateau d'If]], assumes three alter egos: the count of Monte Cristo, the Italian abbe called Giacomo Busoni, and the Englishman Lord Wilmore. In the novel, the Count of Monte Cristo rewards those who had been good to him while punishing those who contributed in one way or the other to his imprisonment. He leads M. Danglars to lose all his fortune, M. de Villefort to his madness, Fernand Mandego to commit suicide and others more to their fate.
*[[Norman Douglas]] in the late 1890s wrote a short story, "The Familiar Spirit", about a man who became aware while drowning of a conformist [[True self and false self|second self]] – "the presence within him of this Spirit, his ''alter ego'', which is bent on crushing his ambition".<ref>N. Douglas, ''Looking Back'' (London 1934) p. 274</ref>
*Published in 1905, the [[The Scarlet Pimpernel|Scarlet Pimpernel]]'s titular protagonist is the prototype hero with a [[secret identity]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Masquerade: Essays on Tradition and Innovation Worldwide |editor-first=Deborah |editor-last=Bell |chapter=The (Super) Hero's Masquerade |first=Ron |last=Naversen |pages=217''ff'' |publisher=McFarland |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-7864-7646-6}}</ref> Sir Percy Blakeney leads a double life: He appears to be just a wealthy fop, but in reality he is the Scarlet Pimpernel, a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking master of disguise and escape artist who establishes a network of supporters, The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, that aids his endeavors. By drawing attention to his alter ego, Blakeney hides behind his public face of a thinking foppish playboy (similar to [[Batman]], who hides himself as Bruce Wayne) <ref>{{cite book|last1=Robb|first1=Brian J.|title=A Brief History of Superheroes: From Superman to the Avengers, the Evolution of Comic Book Legends|date=May 2014|publisher=Hatchet UK}}</ref> 
*In [[comic books]], superheroes and their secret identities are often considered the ''alter egos''. The [[archetype|archetypal]] comic book hero, [[Superman]], assumes the identity of the "mild-mannered" newspaper reporter [[Clark Kent]]  to live among the citizens of Metropolis without arousing suspicion. ''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' comic book series further complicates this theme, as [[Bruce Banner]] loses control to the Hyde-like Hulk whenever he becomes angry, yet also depends upon the Hulk's superpowers to combat villains.
*In the film and novel ''[[Fight Club]]'', [[Narrator (Fight Club)|the narrator]] has an alter ego he loses control of, [[Tyler Durden]].
*In the Indian Malayalam film ''[[Ustaad (1999 film)|Ustaad]]'', written by [[Ranjith (director)|Ranjith]] and directed by [[Sibi Malayil]], [[Mohanlal]] plays the character of Ustaad, the alter ego of the character Parameswaran.
*In Disney's ''[[Hannah Montana]]'', [[Miley Stewart]] (played by [[Miley Cyrus]]), leads the life of a high school student, and the life of teen pop sensation Hannah Montana allowing her to get the best of both worlds. Likewise, Miley's friends, [[Lilly Truscott]] (played by [[Emily Osment]]) and [[Oliver Oken]] (played by [[Mitchel Musso]]), also lead the lives of high school students and are what make up Hannah's entourage, Lola Luftnagle, and Mike Stanley III respectively.
* In ''[[Pretty Little Liars]]'', Vivian Darkbloom is the alter ego of [[Alison Dilaurentis]].
*In ''[[Beavis and Butt-Head]]'', Cornholio is [[Beavis]]'s alter ego.
*Several famous musicians have adopted alter egos over the years, usually to indicate a new creative direction or a deep dive into their emotions removed from their popular stage persona—notable examples being [[David Bowie]] (with [[Ziggy Stardust (character)|Ziggy Stardust]] and [[Aladdin Sane (character)|Aladdin Sane]]) and [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] (with Camille).<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/origin-stories-musics-biggest-alter-egos/|title=The Origin Stories of Music's Biggest Alter Egos|last=Kotrial|first=Utsav|date=August 30, 2018|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=November 16, 2019}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote Bowie's invention of Ziggy Stardust was "the alter ego that changed music forever and sent his career into orbit".<ref>{{cite news |title='Ziggy Stardust': How Bowie Created the Alter Ego That Changed Rock |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ziggy-stardust-how-bowie-created-the-alter-ego-that-changed-rock-55254/ |access-date=19 July 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> Particularly during the 2000s, several big-name singers dedicated album eras to reveal their alter egos, including [[Janet Jackson]] with ''[[Damita Jo (album)|Damita Jo]],'' [[Mariah Carey]] with ''[[The Emancipation of Mimi]]'', and [[Beyoncé]] with ''[[I Am... Sasha Fierce|I Am ... Sasha Fierce]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/madonna-madame-x/|title=Madonna: Madame X Album Review|last=Juzwiak|first=Rich|date=June 18, 2019|website=Pitchfork|access-date=November 16, 2019}}</ref> Many rappers have also employed alter egos, notably [[Eminem]] (Slim Shady), [[Shock G]] (Humpty Hump), [[Nicki Minaj]] (Roman Zolanski), and [[Tyler, the Creator]] (Wolf Haley, and Igor), among others. The rapper [[MF Doom|MF DOOM]] used a lot of alter egos throughout his career, notably [[Viktor Vaughn]] and King Geedorah.
*[[Darth Vader]] is considered to be Anakin Skywalker's alter ego following his fall to the dark side of [[The Force]].
*In [[Omori (video game)|OMORI]], the story revolves around a boy named SUNNY and his "alter ego" OMORI.
*In the 2023 Tamil Film ''[[Leo (2023 Indian film)|Leo: Bloody Sweet]]'' actor [[Vijay (actor)|Joseph Vijay]] plays the character Leo Das and his alter-ego Parthiban.
*The 2006 animated film [[Paprika (2006 film)|Paprika]] features a psychologist named Atsuko and her dream-self, Paprika. 
*In the [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]] Film [[Ustaad (1999 film)|Ustaad]] released in 1999, actor [[Mohanlal]] plays both the characters <nowiki>''</nowiki>Ustaad", an underworld don, and his alter-ego Parmeshwaran, a soft spoken businessman that leads a normal life. 
* In the video game ''[[Elden Ring]]'', one of the most important characters, "Miquella the kind" has an alter ego called "St. Trina"

==See also==
{{Columns-list|colwidth=22em|
*[[Author surrogate]] 
*[[Demonic Possession]]
*[[Ego-state therapy]]
*[[Gothic double]]
*[[Heteronym (literature)|Heteronym]]
*[[Moniker]] (nickname)
*[[Mononymous person]]
*[[Pen name]]
*[[Persona]]
**[[Fursona (fandom)|Fursona]]
*[[Pseudonym]]
*[[Ring name]]
*[[Rebirth (Buddhism)]]
*[[Reincarnation]]
*[[Schizophrenia]]
*[[Stage name]]
*[[Subpersonality]]
*[[True self and false self]]
*[[Tulpa]]
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Superhero fiction}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Alter egos| ]]
[[Category:Conceptions of self]]
[[Category:Latin words and phrases]]
[[Category:Superhero fiction themes]]
[[Category:Ego psychology]]