How did Rousseau distinguish the general will from individual wishes?

In Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s political theory, the general will is a collective expression aimed at the common good, which he distinguishes from the particular, often contradictory, wishes of individuals or private groups.1

Rousseau argued that while individuals may be deceived or tempted to pursue their own narrow interests, they are capable of taking a moral standpoint as citizens. To access the general will, individuals must look beyond their personal desires or group affiliations and reflect on the interest of the republic as a whole. He suggested that this is achieved by following one's conscience in the "silence of the passions," rather than through heated debate.1

Ultimately, Rousseau maintained that the general will is intrinsically right. When citizens vote based on their sense of justice and the common interest, they are essentially obeying themselves as members of the political community. Consequently, acting against the general will is viewed as acting against one's own higher interest as a citizen.1