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Chapter 14: Problem 1

Explain how the id, ego, and superego work together in a person.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The id, ego, and superego are parts of Freud's theoretical constructs for the functioning of a person's psychology. The id demands immediate satisfaction of instincts, the ego seeks to satisfy these demands in a socially acceptable way, and the superego strives for perfection by incorporating learned social and moral standards. They work together by creating a complex system of personal checks and balances to form personality and behavior.

Step by step solution

01

Define id

The id is the primitive, instinctive component of personality that operates according to the pleasure principle, which demands immediate gratification. It represents the unconscious mind comprising sexual and aggressive drives and hidden memories.
02

Define Ego

The ego is the rational, pragmatic part of our personality, that operates according to the reality principle. It is the conscious mind, and it tries to satisfy the id’s needs in a socially acceptable way. Essentially, it tries to balance the demands of the id and superego.
03

Define Superego

The superego contains the societal and moral standards, ideals, and values internalized from parents and society. It rewards or punishes through feelings of satisfaction, pride, guilt or remorse, and it strives for perfection.
04

Interplay of id, Ego, and Superego

These three components interact to shape our behaviors. The id creates the demands, the ego adds the reality, and the superego adds morality to the action which is taken. A healthy personality results from a balance among these three components. For example, if a person is hungry, their id would make them want to eat immediately irrespective of the setting. The ego might direct them to a socially acceptable source like a restaurant or their home kitchen, and the superego would make them feel guilty if they thought about stealing someone else’s food.

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