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Definition
Ego shock refers to feeling mentally paralyzed or frozen in response to severe self-esteem threats. Individuals in a state of ego shock have trouble thinking; they feel distant from themselves; the world seems distant or strange; they feel emotionally numb. The experience of ego shock is temporary, usually only lasting for seconds or minutes.
Context and Importance
Ego shock typically occurs when individuals experience extreme blows to their self-esteem. One of the most common causes of ego shock is rejection by friends or romantic partners. For example, having a girlfriend or boyfriend unexpectedly say that you are worthless and ugly might lead to an experience of ego shock. There might be an immediate experience of mental paralysis or strangeness that comes over you. The ego shock then ...
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