y is made of three components:1. The Id
2. Ego
3. Superego
These are process which organize our mental life and interact with each other. All three aspects of personality are said to be powered by the Libido (the energy of psychical desire, erotic tendencies, sexual desire, and motive forces for sexual life). Thus, there is always a struggle between the three components to dominate ones personality.
The Id
The Id is the first personality structure we develop, we are born with it. It is the pleasure principle of the mind which wants to achieve pleasurable feelings through the reduction of discomfort, pain and tension.
o Origin of personality
o Reservoir of instincts
o Consists of 2 basic instincts:
- Eros - energy which preserves love for oneself and love of others.
- Thanatos – energy representing destructiveness and death, its most important function is the promotion of aggressiveness
o Self-centered
o Needs: "I want"
The Ego
The Ego is the rational part of personality, this develops at the age of two and it attempts to satisfy the id by rationalizing. It develops out of the energy of the Id and has access to consciousness. It makes the connection between the reality and the Id’s needs.
o Adapts to the outside world.
o Guided by the intellectual operations such as thinking, evaluating, planning, and decision-making. These determine whether certain behaviors are beneficial in certain circumstances.
o Bridges to reality but it is not totally conscious.
o Its reaction to threatening instincts is stress/anxiety. Thus it uses Defense Mechanisms (internal, unconscious and automatic psychological strategies) for regaining control over the Id’s instincts.
The Superego
The Superego is the moral part of personality; this develops at the age of 4-5. The child follows the morality of their parents by making decisions according to their morals. It is also t
he representation of society in ones personality that blends ones wants with the standards set by culture or society.o Operates according to ones society’s values.
o Conscience (it can internally punish people when have done wrong – source of guilt)
o Helps control Id impulses by directing energy through inhibiting id’s expression of sexual and aggressive instincts
o Unlike the Ego, it attempts to suppress the needs of the Id rather satisfying them.
Bibliography
Websites:
Neill, James. "Structure of Mind." Wilderdom. 28 July 2004. Wilderdom. 22 Mar 2008 <http://wilderdom.com/personality/L8-4StructureMindIdEgoSuperego.html>.
Eade, Chris. "Structure of Mind." Ms Whitney Blankenship. September 2003. Leander High School. 22 Mar 2008 http://classroom.leanderisd.org/webs/whitney.blankenship/upload/psychodynamic_perspective_-_freud.doc.
"Freud." Free Revision Notes. Revision Notes. 22 March 2008
Images:
Hotrocket. Infant crying. 13 September 2006
Walsh, Anthony A. Psychoanalytical Psychology. 13 August 2004 <http://www.kheper.net/topics/psychology/Freud.html>
Probate Court. Scale of Justice.
