concept
Latin
Persona
lit. โmaskโ
The face one presents to the world, distinct from the inner self.
Origin
'Persona' originally meant the mask worn by actors in Roman theater. Jung used it for the social-facing layer of personality, distinct from the ego and shadow.
Modern usage
Used in psychology, marketing ('user persona'), and online identity discourse.
Tags
identity
mask
Related
concept
Philosophy & Psychology
Shadow Self
Jung's term for the parts of the personality a person refuses to acknowledge.
concept
Philosophy & Psychology
Archetype
A recurring template โ character, image, story โ held to be shared across cultures.
word
Philosophy & Psychology
Ego
The conscious self โ or, casually, an inflated sense of self-importance.