Self and ego: a network view based on ecology and extended cognition

Frequently, the terms self and ego are employed as synonyms. From the one hand, this can obscure and confound different experiences related to consciousness. On the other hand, this can limit the use of these concepts when trying to express the human potential, and enhance well-being. Following the principles of ecology, system theory, and extended cognition, I propose an operational definition of the self as conscious cognitive unit. As such, it is part of (and dependent by) a wider network, and continuously changing. Nonetheless, such lack of boundaries and stability does not prevent the identification of the self as a key functional unit. Instead, the ego is, in agreement with many traditional views, the character of the story formed through the personal narrative, generally moulded by evolutionary, social, and individual determinants. The ego is largely based on past and future projections relying on the Default Mode Network, generally associated with mind wandering and psychological distress. A proper psychological balance, therefore, requires an integrated relationship between self and ego. The social network has, in this scenario, a key evolutionary role, being from the one side a structural element of our mental scaffold and, at the same time, one of the main constraints when dealing with personal growth and well-being.