A Case Study based on True-false Self Theory: An Exploration and Analysis of Narcissism and Shame

© 2025 by the Authors. Licensee Whioce Publishing, Singapore. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )

Download PDF

Cite

XML

HTML

Abstract

Under the background of comprehensively strengthening and improving the mental health work of students in the new era, combined with the practical work of psychological counseling, using Winnicott’s true and false self theory, this paper deeply analyzes the shame experience of a 24-year-old male graduate student client, discusses the trauma of his relationship with his parents in the early stage of growth, and focuses on analyzing the influence of his mother’s narcissistic behavior on his false self formation. Further, this study will analyze the root of his narcissistic damage and sense of shame, explore issues such as the sense of meaninglessness, worthlessness, and the hollow state experienced by his client, and provide reference value for the complex interaction between individual psychological development and significant others.

References

Sandler J, 2018, Freud, On Narcissism: An Introduction. Chemical Industry Press, Beijing, 9.

Tang TT, 2019, False Self in the Context of Chinese Culture and its Influence on Psychological Counselors. Journal of Psychological Communication, 3(4): 263–266.

Zhang Y, Long H, 2019, Analysis of the Root of College Students’ Interpersonal Problems Based on True-false Self Theory. Journal of Jiamusi Vocational College, 2019(2): 139 + 141.

Wang LJ, 2015, The New interpretation of “Kong Rong Makes Pears” by True and False Self and its Educational Enlightenment. Basic Education, 12(5): 22–27.

Zhou H, 2005, Self-development and Children’s Mental Health. China Maternal and Child Health Care, 2005(3): 66–67.

Lv DL, 2023, Kohut’s Psychoanalytic Understanding and Autologous Psychology and its Development in China. Popular Psychology, 2023(1): 2–4.

Lv WH, 2014, Enlightenment and Benefit of Kohut’s Self-psychology Theory to Psychotherapy. Journal of Academic Communication, 2014(10): 49–53.

Ren QP, Wei HB, 2012, On Short Course Therapy of New Self Psychology. Journal of Nanjing Normal University (Social Sciences Edition), 2012(1): 109–113.

Peng Y, 2014, A Brief Review of the Research Progress of Autopsychology. Science and Technology Horizons, 2014(23): 148 + 184.

Cao RH, 2009, Self-psychological Theory and its Application in Counseling Psychological Disorders, thesis, Shaanxi Normal University.

Kuang YX, 2024, Dilemma and Optimization Path of Students’ Mental Health Education in the New Era. Advances in Psychology, 14(12): 165–171.

Yi M, 2023, The New Development of Intersubjective Self Psychology in Psychoanalysis, thesis, Guangxi Normal University Press.

Bai Q, Hu HH, Xu P, et al., 2024, The Correlation between College Students’ Mental Health and their Parents’ Parenting Style, Social Responsibility and Life Attitude. Chinese Journal of Health Psychology, 32(1): 97–103.

Wang J, 2019, The Spread and Development of Autopsychology in China. Psychological Communication, 3(4): 244–251.

Qin Y, 2013, A Review of Self-research in Psychoanalytic Psychology. Journal of Shangqiu Normal University, 29(11): 118–123.

Previous article in this issue

Next article in this issue