“Mental blackmail feels like a violation of the “true” self. But the question whether there is a “true self” is itself contentious—from religion to philosophy to psychology, there have been many a pronouncement on it. It goes to the heart of what a human being is—are we so deeply rooted in our psyche, that to disobey “it” (whether for money, or for conformance) is tantamount to selling our soul? What are the mental and physical consequences of staying true (or not) to our true self, if there is one?”