What is Imago?
The Imago, a Latin word for image, begins forming in infancy (probably in the womb) and consists of positive and negative messages we receive from parents, teachers, siblings, peers and others in our lives. These messages are cumulative and are stored in our unconscious mind. As adults we choose a partner to whom our unconscious is attracted based on the image we have of the perfect “other.” As we grow up, we learn to adapt to the messages we receive in order to survive. That is, we develop defenses that we believe keep us safe. We react to our partner in the same manner we reacted to our parents and others. We recreate early experiences in order to get what we did not get in childhood. The brain is designed to assure physical survival. It reacts to anything in its environment that resembles earlier perceived threats, such as a facial expression, tone of voice, words or behavior. Perceptions, attitudes, reactions and behaviors are shaped by early images. Imago Relationship Therapy and
