An excerpt from my next book inthe works describing how the ego, along with our concept of time, produces man's dysfunctional nature.

Of all the creations of man, the one that seperates him from the rest of the species onf the planet, is the mind. it is a remarkable tool when used correctly. When used in a dysfunctional way, causes most of our problems.Our mind has gone through an evolutionary process that has allowed us to adapt better than the other creatures in which we share space with. We have self awareness and higher cognitive processes such as the capacity for abstract thought and imagery. We use these in order to enhance our chance of survival. The has created another tool, called the ego, in which to better coordinate all of its defensive mechanisms. The problem presents itself when the mind of thoughts and the created ego go too far and identify themselves as the real you. The ego takes over and attempts to defend itself against all possible threats whether real or imagined. The mind (ego) does not differentiate between the two. It trains itself to look for anything that might be a threat. Even emotional attacks can be perceived as threatening by the ego. We all do this to certain degrees but some allow this mental dysfunction to spirial out of control all the way to paranoia.Along this same line, the ego looks to bolster itself in order to feel more complete and ready to withstand any type of attack. The ego's thirst for more becomes insatiable. Too much is never enough when it comes to material objects, money, prestige, power, and so on. By obtaining what it perceives it lacks (and it always is lacking in some area) it creates a feeling of fufillment. This becomes a coveted, pleasurable emotion to be sought again and again by the ego.