We construct a false self starting from childhood because we need to adapt, accommodate and survive different environments and parental figures.  Our natural sensitivity means that we collect messages about the self that have consequences of us forming defences to protect against deep shame and humiliation and hurt.  I believe this process to be a universal reality for everyone.  Everyone has ideals and standards and thus stuff they have collected from their own childhoods.  “Everyone has stuff”.  Therefore we project “stuff” onto others whether we are are aware of it or not.  We may not mean to but we do, it is virtually impossible not to.  With this we all develop defences to survive the world which is often like an emotional jungle.  Analysis Anna Freud (1936)  wrote about the ego and the Mechanisms of Defence.  Winnicott (1896-1971)  wrote about developmental complexities in his book The Maturational Processes and the Facilitating Environment.  When we talk about facilitating environments we know that a healthy wholesome upbringing is the best way forward.  However, children still collect messages regardless by a process of “Magical thinking”.  Once part of Winnicotts writing captured me when he said about the human infant in the first years of life should not have to meet frustration or privation for these factors immediately cause exaggerated tension and stimulate latent defence activities.  If the effects of such experiences are not skilfully counteracted, behaviour  disorders may result.  I really agree with this but I also think it is inevitable that babies feel frustration.  M Klien Wrote about the process of splitting and in early life the infant sees the mother as  2 relational objects because it would be overwhelming to accept that 1 person who provides nurture could also be the one who frustrates.  Here the good and bad parental figure was originated in writings.  If this is the case then its inevitable that no matter what childhood one has defences are build to survive it regardless.  Therefore, everyone has a false self that can be so ingrained that finding what is real can be difficult because of the layers one has covered themselves up with.  Rather like “Protection Blankets” .