Egosyntonic and Egodystonic

Egosyntonic refers to thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that a person perceives as consistent with their self-image and values, and therefore typically do not cause distress. For example, someone who enjoys their habits and sees them as part of who they are is experiencing egosyntonic attitudes. On the other hand, egodystonic describes thoughts or behaviors that a person finds distressing, unwanted, or inconsistent with their self-image. They often experience discomfort or conflict about these feelings, such as someone feeling distressed by intrusive thoughts that they find unacceptable. These concepts help understand how individuals relate to their inner experiences.