How the ego inhibits personal development and social attachment

According to social psychologist Roos Vonk, our ego impedes our social relationships and our personal growth. "If you're always trying to be likeable, lovable, cool or smart enough, you'll never really feel comfortable with the other person or feel truly connected to them," she writes in her latest book. 'Mijn ego heeft altijd gelijk. Van zelfbedrog naar zelfkennis [My Ego is Always Right. From Self-deception to Self-knowledge]' will be released by Meulenhoff Publishers on 12 September. The researcher argues that our ego plays a bigger role than we often think; it contributes to our self-image, to our choices and it plays a part in many social situations. Vonk: "The ego has a bad name, but it's essentially that little voice in your head that says: I want to be good enough, I want to be liked, I want to matter.