False Self
The false self is derived mostly from infantile fantasies and it's motive are not to deal with reality tasks but to implement defensive fantasies: for example, avoiding self-activation to promote the fantasy of being taken care of which then becomes a way of "feeling good." The purpose of the false self is not adaptive but defensive; it protects against painful feelings. In other words the false self does not set out to master reality but to avoid painful feelings, a goal it achieves at the cost of mastering reality.
Real Self
The real self allows us to take steps to carve out our individual places in the real world by finding the appropriate job, lifestyle, or mate. Our lives are then characterized by a harmonious interaction between the intrapsychic real self and the external environment, which, in turn, maintains our self esteem.
