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The Psychoanalytic Theory of Sigmund Freud
Human personality is multifaceted and contains several components, as per Sigmund Freud. The id, the ego, and the superego are the three components of personality, according to Freud’s well-known psychoanalytic theory. Complicated psychological actions are the result of the interaction of these factors.
Every element contributes something distinctively different to personality, and the three integrate in ways that have a significant impact on a person. At various points during a lifetime, each personality trait manifests itself.
Thus he started, “certain aspects of your personality are more primal and might pressure you to act upon your most basic urges.” Other parts of your personality work to counteract these urges and strive to make you conform to the demands of reality. “
Id in psychoanalytic theory
According to Freud, “the id is the source of all psychic energy, making it the primary component of personality.” The id is the only component of personality that is present from birth. This aspect of personality is entirely unconscious and includes instinctive and primitive behaviors. “
The affective component, which aims for instant fulfillment of all requirements, goals, and aspirations, is what motivates the id. If these demands are not met right away, a condition of tension or anxiety results.
Example:An upsurge in thirst and hunger, for instance, should prompt a prompt attempt to eat or drink.
Early childhood identification is crucial since it guarantees that a child’s wants are addressed. The newborn will scream till the needs of the child are met if they are starving or in discomfort. Young newborns are completely under the control of their ids; they cannot be reasoned with when their demands must be met.
Nevertheless, meeting these demands right away isn’t always practical or even feasible. If the affective component were our sole guiding principle, we may find ourselves snatching the things we desire from others in order to satisfy our own appetites.
This is simultaneously unpleasant and morally inappropriate. As per Freud, “the id uses primary process thinking, which entails creating a mental image of the sought item as a means of satiating the urge, to try to ease the tension brought on by the pleasure principle.”
Ego in psychoanalytic theory
He stated that, “The ego develops from the id and ensures that the impulses of the id can be expressed in a manner acceptable in the real world.” The ego functions in the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious mind. “The ego is the component of personality that is responsible for dealing with reality.”
The actuality concept, on which the ego is built, aspires to a realistically and culturally acceptable means of stating the cravings. Whenever choosing to engage in or ignore instincts, the reality principle assesses the advantages and disadvantages of a way to proceed.
Deferred gratification is a common method for quelling the iurges; the ego will ultimately consent to the conduct, but only when the circumstances are right.
The “secondary process” of thinking, in which the ego seeks a physical item in the physical realm that resembles the mental image produced by the initial id’s function, also allows the ego to release tension brought on by unfulfilled urges.
He viewed, as an example, “the ego of the rider and the id of the horse.” The horse provides the force and motion, and the rider directs and controls the animal. The horse would be free to go anywhere it liked and do whatever it wished without its rider. The rider directs and tells the horse to move in the direction that the rider desires. “
Super ego in psychoanalytic theory
Freud claimed that “the superego starts to show up about age five.” The internalized moral principles and ideas we pick up from society and our parents are held by the superego (our sense of right and wrong). Instructions for making judgments are provided by the superego. “
As per his theory, the superego is divided into two parts:
- The conscience contains understanding of events that the community and families deem to be wrong. These actions are frequently prohibited and frequently result in negative outcomes, sanctions, or regretful emotions.
- The guidelines and expectations for conduct that the ego strives to adhere to are part of the ego ideal.
The superego aims to refine and elevate our conduct. It strives to make the ego operate in accordance with aspirational norms rather than actual principles and seeks to repress all impermissible id tendencies. The conscious, preconscious, and unconscious all include the superego.
Connection between the three concepts of psychoanalytic theory
It is crucial to keep in mind that the id, ego, and superego are not three different entities with distinct borders while discussing them. These variables communicate regularly to affect a person’s overall character and conduct.
It is simple to understand how competition between the id, ego, and superego may develop in the presence of so many opposing forces. The capacity of the ego to continue existing in the face of these conflicting impulses is known by Freud as “ego strength.”
