Identification

Identification with mental representations, or a psychic structure patterned by such representations, is the most fundamental cause of narcissistic disturbance. (The Point of Existence, pg 91)

One thing that can help our investigation is to connect the feeling of "I," the feeling of self, to what is called "identity" or "identification". Finding out who you are is essentially finding your identity. You can see the connection between identity and identification, if you look at your experience of any moment, and see that at that very moment you are identifying with something, you're taking yourself to be something in particular. You might not be consciously aware of what you are taking yourself to be, but at any moment you are taking yourself to be something, or someone. So what we want to investigate is what or who you are taking yourself to be at each moment and question it. (Diamond Heart Book 3, pg 19)

Identification and defense

Our understanding is that to continue identifying with the particular ego structure is to continue the defense. In all the cases of an individual going from an ego state to a Being state, the main defensive maneuver is the identification with an ego structure, a self-image or an object relation. While it is true that one must deal with other defense mechanisms, like repression, reaction formation, projection and so on, ultimately one comes to face the identification systems themselves as the ultimate and most subtle defense. (The Pearl Beyond Price, pg 137)

Mind, life and identification

The moment you take yourself to be anything in your mind, you are split from who you are, and you will experience insecurity, fear, and desire. The separation from your real self will bring wants and needs, the thoughts that accompany them, the feelings that accompany those, and the rest of the mess that most people call their lives. (Diamond Heart Book 3, pg 91)

Identification systems and the body

The permanent presence of identification systems in the mind can now be seen as a kind of indigestion or constipation. Any such system is a mental contraction, which is accompanied by physical contractions in the body. When inner sensitivity is refined, the tensions in the body which accompany the identification can be seen. These tensions are what William Reich called "the body armor" ...identifying these tension patterns can be very useful in the process of becoming aware of one's identifications. (The Pearl Beyond Price, pg 164)