Sign-In
Cart
Ego Perception: Problematic Paradigm
Hardcover
Publisher Price: $119.99
Publisher: Alkema Press
Published: Nov 1 2026
Pages: 902
Weight: 3.88
Height: 1.88 Width: 7.00 Depth: 10.00
Language: English
Ego Perception: Problematic Paradigm offers a whole-person reinterpretation of Sigmund Freud's structural model of the psyche and asks a fundamental question: What changes when ego is understood not as one agency within the person, but as the global organization of the person?
Jason S. Alkema reconstructs ego as the embodied individual's integrated, transacting organization and superordinate executive function. Within this framework, id and superego are not discarded; they are reconsidered as subordinate ego functions operating within the organizational whole. Intrapsychic conflict remains real, but its needs, fears, defenses, prohibitions, attachments, and competing inclinations remain dynamics of one person rather than the actions of separately reified inner agencies.
From this foundation, the book develops an integrated account of ego, self, identity, mind, consciousness and the unconscious, psychological defense, attachment, need and fear, conscience, personality organization, self-management, and reality-contact. Identity is examined as a cognitive-technological organization through which experience becomes personally meaningful. Defense is reconsidered through the regulation of attention and experiential contact. Executive attachment formation describes the organization through which identity, attachment, self-representation, affective investment, defensive expectation, and executive orientation operate together.
The work proceeds from Freud rather than around him. It engages the subsequent development of psychoanalytic and psychological thought, including ego psychology, analytical psychology, object relations, self psychology, attachment theory, systems theory, philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and related perspectives. Rather than accumulating these traditions eclectically, Ego Perception reorganizes their relevant insights within a governing model of ego as a reality-contact organization.
The resulting paradigm examines psychological development in terms of the person's increasing capacity to contact, apprehend, assimilate, and respond to actuality without sacrificing individuality. It distinguishes adaptive differentiation from pathological fragmentation, examines the relationship between identity and experience, and considers how defensive organization can preserve psychological stability while simultaneously limiting access to experience and personal capacities.
Extensive appendices develop the book's treatment of triangulation, adaptive and pathological dissociation, humanity's tripartite divisions, and a detailed alphabetized system of the work's core concepts and terminology.
Written for readers interested in psychoanalysis, psychodynamic theory, ego psychology, identity, consciousness, philosophy of mind, and the organization of human experience, Ego Perception: Problematic Paradigm proposes an integrated framework for reconsidering how the person perceives, organizes, defends against, assimilates, and responds to reality.
Also in
General Psychology
The Enneagram of Eating: How the 9 Personality Types Influence Your Food, Diet, and Exercise Choices
Gadd, Ann
Paperback
On Death and Dying: What the Dying Have to Teach Doctors, Nursers, Clergy, and Their Own Families
Kubler-Ross, Elisabeth
Kbler-Ross, Elisabeth
Paperback
The Sullivanians: Sex, Psychotherapy, and the Wild Life of an American Commune
Stille, Alexander
Hardcover
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most
Stone, Douglas
Heen, Sheila
Patton, Bruce
Paperback
Inspired: Understanding Creativity: A Journey Through Art, Science, and the Soul
Richtel, Matt
Hardcover
Philosophy in Turbulent Times: Canguilhem, Sartre, Foucault, Althusser, Deleuze, Derrida
Roudinesco, Elisabeth
Paperback
Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood
Hallowell, Edward M.
Hallowell
Paperback
Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of Rain
Brach, Tara
Hardcover
The Strength of Sensitivity: Understanding Empathy for a Life of Emotional Peace & Balance
Mesich, Kyra
Paperback
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents
Gibson, Lindsay C.
Paperback
Essays V2: Moral And Entertaining On The Various Faculties And Passions Of The Human Mind (1815)
Clarendon, Edward Hyde Earl of
Paperback
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Pressfield, Steven
Paperback
No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model
Schwartz, Richard C.
Paperback
Publication Manual (Official) 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
Paperback
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships
Rosenberg, Marshall B.
Paperback
Conversation: How to Connect with Anyone & Make Every Interaction Count
Van Edwards, Vanessa
Hardcover
Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit
Brown, Brené
Hardcover
Raising Conscious Sons: Cultivating Purpose, Connection, and Inner Power in a Chaotic World
Tsabary, Shefali
Hardcover
Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find--And Keep--Love
Heller, Rachel
Levine, Amir
Paperback
Raising Conscious Daughters: Building Confidence, Courage, and Inner Power in an Anxious World
Tsabary, Shefali
Hardcover
Burn the Haystack: Decode Dating, Torch the Duds, and Make Room for Men Who Matter
Young Phd, Jennie
Hardcover
Come Closer: Childhood Wounds, Adult Love, and the Secrets of Emotional Intimacy
Atlas, Galit
Hardcover
The Goddess That Failed: Feminism's Unending War against Men, Families, and Civilization Itself
Fiamengo, Janice
Paperback
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents
Gibson, Lindsay C.
Hardcover
The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook: Practical Dbt Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, a
Wood, Jeffrey C.
Brantley, Jeffrey
McKay, Matthew
Paperback
Why Am I Like This?: Break Your Relationship Patterns and Create the Life You Want
Zohar, Sabrina
Hardcover
Hábitos Atómicos: Cambios Pequeños, Resultados Extraordinarios / Atomic Habits
Clear, James
Paperback
Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience
Brown, Brené
Hardcover
A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection
Epley, Nicholas
Hardcover
The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole
Schwartz, Arielle, PhD
Paperback
Your Ocd Will Hate This Book: A Proven System to Overcome Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Take Back Your Life
Peterson, Nathan
Hardcover
The Culting of America: What Makes a Cult and Why We Love Them
Reed, Amy
Mestyanek Young, Daniella
Hardcover
Darkness Becomes Bright: On the Brief Life and Immortal Art of Edgar Allan Poe
Ogden, Emily
Hardcover
Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving in
Fisher, Roger
Ury, William
Patton, Bruce
Paperback
Self-Love Workbook for Women: Release Self-Doubt, Build Self-Compassion, and Embrace Who You Are
Logan, Megan, MSW Lcsw
Paperback
Anchored, Aligned, Accountable: A Framework for Transcending Bullsh*t and Transforming Our Lives and Work
Bethea, Aiko
Hardcover
The Ultimate Fun Adult Activity Book: Logic Puzzles, Sudoku, Mazes, Word Searches, Crosswords, Acrostics, Coloring, and More!
Demyanovich, Julie
Paperback
Why We Ask Why: The Science of Explanation and the Human Drive to Understand
Lombrozo, Tania
Hardcover
The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn't Come Easy
Cook, Alison
Paperback
It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle
Wolynn, Mark
Paperback
Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering
Gladwell, Malcolm
Paperback
Sometimes Therapy Is Awkward: A Collection of Life-Changing Insights for the Modern Clinician
Arzt, Nicole
Paperback
My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies
Menakem, Resmaa
Paperback
Moral Economics: From Prostitution to Organ Sales, What Controversial Transactions Reveal about How Markets Work
Roth, Alvin E.
Hardcover
Beyond Belief: The Science-Backed Way to Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Breakthrough Results
Eyal, Nir
Hardcover
Imagine That: Transform How You Think, Feel, and Live with the Science of Imagination
Vieten, Cassandra
Hardcover
The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team
Lencioni, Patrick M.
Hardcover
The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact
Heath, Chip
Heath, Dan
Hardcover
Hbr's 10 Must Reads on Emotional Intelligence, Updated and Expanded (Featuring What Makes a Leader by Daniel Goleman)
Goleman, Daniel
Ibarra, Hermina
Review, Harvard Business
Paperback
The Internal Family Systems Workbook: A Guide to Discover Your Self and Heal Your Parts
Schwartz, Richard C.
Paperback
Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principle. (from Vol. 8. of the Collected Works of C. G. Jung)
Jung, C. G.
Paperback
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed
Gottlieb, Lori
Hardcover
Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning
Brown, Peter C.
McDaniel, Mark A.
Roediger, Henry L.
Hardcover
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most
Stone, Douglas
Heen, Sheila
Patton, Bruce
Paperback
This Book May Cause Side Effects: The Curious and Dangerous Power of the Nocebo Effect, Placebo's Evil Twin
Pilcher, Helen
Hardcover
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus - For Women Only: Be Happy With or Without a Man
Gray, John
Paperback
The Balancing ACT: Creating Healthy Dependency and Connection Without Losing Yourself
Tawwab, Nedra Glover
Hardcover
The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth
Edmondson, Amy C.
Hardcover
AP Psychology Premium, 2027: Prep Book with 4 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Practice
Weseley, Allyson J., Ed D.
McEntarffer, Robert, PH. D.
Paperback
Psychological Safety (HBR Emotional Intelligence Series)
Auger-Dominguez, Daisy
Review, Harvard Business
Edmondson, Amy C.
Paperback
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
Brown, Brené
Paperback
King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine
Moore, Robert
Gillette, Doug
Paperback
How to Win Friends and Influence People: Updated for the Next Generation of Leaders
Carnegie, Dale
Hardcover
Engaged Compassion: Seven Practices to Cultivate Resilience, Connection, and a Joyous Life
Negi, Lobsang Tenzin
Hardcover
You Are the One You've Been Waiting for: Applying Internal Family Systems to Intimate Relationships
Schwartz, Richard C.
Paperback
The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity--And Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race
Long, Michael E.
Lieberman, Daniel Z.
Paperback
Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think
Greenberger, Dennis
Padesky, Christine A.
Paperback
Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice
Mullan, Jennifer
Hardcover
The Art of Letting Go: Stop Overthinking, Stop Negative Spirals, and Find Emotional Freedom
Trenton, Nick
Hardcover
Te vas a morir y todavía no has empezado a vivir: 29 principios para vivir mejor (y con más sentido)
Falces, Laura
Moreno Montana, Uli
Paperback
Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults: A Guide for the Anxious, Uniquely Wired, and Easily Distracted
Maguire, Caroline
Hardcover
The Addiction Recovery Workbook: Powerful Skills for Preventing Relapse Every Day
Freedman, Paula A.
Paperback
The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit: Embrace Your Authentic Self and Harness Your True Potential
Moryoussef, Kate
Hardcover
The Silva Mind Control Method: The Revolutionary Program by the Founder of the World's Most Famous Mind Control Course
Silva, José
Miele, Philip
Paperback
What Every Body Is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People
Karlins, Marvin
Navarro, Joe
Paperback
Publication Manual (Official) 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
Paperback
Say This, Not That: How to Master 7 Dreaded Conversations As a Leader in the Modern Workplace
Flickinger, Chris
Paperback