“Every normal person, in fact, is only normal on the average. His ego approximates to that of the psychotic in some part or other and to a greater or lesser extent.”
- May 6, 1856 – September 23, 1939
- Austrian
- Neurologist, Founder of Psychoanalysis
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Quote
“Every normal person, in fact, is only normal on the average. His ego approximates to that of the psychotic in some part or other and to a greater or lesser extent.”
Explanation
In this quote, Freud challenges the rigid distinction between “normal” and “abnormal” psychology, suggesting that mental health exists on a continuum rather than as a clear dividing line. Even those considered mentally healthy possess traits, impulses, or conflicts that resemble those found in psychosis, though perhaps in a more moderate or controlled form. Freud implies that no one is entirely free of inner contradictions or unconscious disturbances; instead, we all share psychological structures that, under different pressures, could manifest as pathology.
This idea reflects Freud’s broader theory that the same psychic mechanisms—repression, displacement, denial—operate in both neurotic and psychotic minds, differing only in intensity, context, or integration. The ego, which mediates between reality and inner drives, may falter or distort reality in ways that echo psychosis, even in otherwise well-functioning individuals. Freud’s point is not to pathologize everyone, but to emphasize that the seeds of psychological disturbance are universally human.
In modern psychology, this concept underpins the shift toward dimensional models of mental health, which view conditions like anxiety, depression, or even psychosis as extremes of common human experiences. Freud’s insight encourages compassion, humility, and self-awareness, reminding us that mental vulnerability is not an exception but a shared condition. What we call “normal” is often just a statistical midpoint, not an ideal of flawless mental functioning.
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