The Relational Self

The Delphic oracle 'Know thyself' is echoed in psychoanalysis as 'Know yourself through the other.' Our search for identity unfolds in relation to others – our mind begins to weave narratives around the significant others. We often believe others influence us, but in truth, they become part of our self. Radically, one could say: there is no self without others. This 'other' can be a parental figure – loving, punitive, or neglecting – a stranger who became a lover in reality or fantasy, or even your Instagram.