FREUDIAN PSYCHOLOGY An Introduction to the Major Components, Part 3: Id, Ego, Superego

Tension of Opposites: Revisited Initially, Freud was only able to state that human beings experienced (and sometimes suffered from) a tension of opposites (pleasure vs. reality principles). He didn’t yet know why or how repression occurred.

Id, Ego, and Superego WHY: Freud eventually hypothesized that the mind engaged in repression as a defense mechanism. HOW: He deduced that the inhibiting, safety conscious aspect of human personality (the part that conforms to the Reality Principle) caused the repression. This aspect of the psyche Freud termed the Ego, while the source of the urges he called the Id.

Id Comes to us at birth fully formed Consists of primary urges, which have a sensual basis  hunger, thirst, sexual pleasure. In infancy, our psyches are entirely Id, but once we become aware of an external reality (and this occurs very early on), the Id is forced to modify. Id + External Reality  Ego

Ego Includes both a conscious and an unconscious element –acts as a guide –is adaptable to changing circumstances –has repressive tendencies, as needed (defensive), which are entirely unconscious.

Super-Ego The “little voice” inside of us that tells us right from wrong. –introjected and internalized parental authority (a hyper-conscience) –stems directly from the Oedipal stage of development –engages in self-critical activities –severity depends upon the violence of the person’s own unconscious feelings in early infancy