Id, Ego, and Superego (there must be a joke in there somewhere…)

Sigmund Freud A psychoanalyst from Austria – born 1856, died 1939 The most influential and one of the most controversial figures of the field of psychology of the 20 th century. Proposed that the mind functions in 3 different ways called the id, ego and superego

Id Pleasure principle – it wants whatever feels good regardless of the situation We are born with our id When a newborn is hungry, he (or she) cries, hot, cries; cold, cries; needs to poop, he does Subconscious

Ego The ego realizes the reality of the situation Sometimes our immediate wants and needs must wait because being selfish can hurt us in the long run It is the ego’s job to meet the needs of the id while taking into consideration the reality of the situation. Subconscious

Superego Moral and ethical part of the subconscious Controls both the id and the ego by checking actions against what we are taught concerning right and wrong. Subconscious All three parts are always struggling for dominance – a healthy person, according to Freud, has a balance of all three.

Think of It This Way If your average teen-age stud is walking down the road and sees a beautiful woman, he will: –Id: Ravish her on the spot (get the dictionary) –Superego: “Ewwwww! Cooties!” Runs away. –Ego: “Have you ever been to Tennessee? ‘Cause you’re the only 10 I see.”