Final answer:
Adults encounter not-me personifications in dreams, schizophrenic episodes, and dissociated reactions, often as a warning of psychological distress. This phenomenon involves complex defence mechanisms like reaction formation and projection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The not-me personifications, also known as aspects of the self that an individual does not recognize as their own characteristics, are encountered by adults. These personifications are expressed in dreams, schizophrenic episodes, and other dissociated reactions. Such expressions in adults are indicative of attempts by the psyche to deal with unrecognized or uncomfortable traits and are always preceded by a form of warning, whether it is a conscious recognition of distress or discomfort or subconsciously through symptoms or behaviours. When dealing with these personifications, it's important to consider the potential causes, such as optical illusions, misinterpretation, hallucinations, brain malfunctioning such as chemical imbalances, the influence of mind-altering substances, and group influence in social psychology.
Moreover, individuals may utilize various defence mechanisms to cope with these not-me personifications. For example, reaction formation can lead an individual to express the opposite traits of their inner inclinations, and projection may result in attributing one's traits to others. These defence mechanisms reflect the complex interplay between an individual's mental health and their understanding of self.