The false self plays a central role in social life: it can help individuals adapt and fit into society, but it may also undermine authenticity and contribute to psychological distress. Although psychodynamic theories have long emphasized the impact of early family relationships on the development of the false self, less is known about how these influences persist into early adulthood. To address this gap, the present research employed the Perception of False Self Scale and the Family Resilience Assessment Scale to examine the relationship between family dynamics and the false self. Data from 243 college students revealed that family organizational patterns, family communication/problem solving, and family belief systems were all correlated with levels of false self, with organizational patterns standing out as the strongest predictor. In addition, qualitative interviews with 15 students illustrated that the association between family support and the false self may be mediated by the extent of one's imagined audience. Taken together, these findings underscore the dual role of the family: shaping the balance between true and false self, and, in turn, influencing its own resilience through these dynamics.