Sigmund Freud lived between 1856 and 1939. He was the founding father of psychoanalysis, a method for treating mental illness and the personality theory which can be used to explain human behavior. According to the psychoanalytic theory, Freud argued that human behavior is as a result of the interaction between three parts of the mind that include the id, ego, and the superego. The theory is also known as Freud’s structural theory of personality and puts a great deal of emphasis on the role that unconscious psychological conflicts play in shaping personality and behavior. The dynamic interactions of these parts of the mind are usually understood to progress through the distinct psychosexual stages of development. This paper analyzes Freud’s personality by looking at the id, the superego, and the ego and considering the psychosexual stages of development.
Freud noted that personality develops from the interaction of three distinct structures of the human mind such as the id, ego, and superego. There could be conflicts that develop among the different structures and the balance in trying to reach the given desires determines how different individuals approach and behave the actual world (Cervone & Little, 2019). The balance that one strikes at any given moment is a great determinant to the resolution of conflicts. One should strive to achieve a balance between the biological aggressive, pleasure-seeking drives, and a socialized internal control.
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The Id
Freud noted that the id is the most primitive part of the three structures. It is usually concerned with instant gratification of the basic physical urges and needs. The part operates completely unconsciously outside one’s conscious thought. It does not consider whether a certain action is rude or would result in conflicts with another individual. It only cares about having something for oneself and meeting the needs and urges of the individual.
The Superego
The superego is the part of the mind that is concerned with the social morals and rules. Many people can define this as their moral compass or their conscience. It can develop when one is a child based on what one’s culture considers right or wrong. The superego should override the id so that one can engage in actions that one can be proud of. In case the id overrides the superego and one engages in actions that could be considered selfish and inconsiderate, then one would later feel guilty and shame over their actions.
The Ego
The ego is different from moral superego and the instinctual id. It is the rational and pragmatic part of one’s personality. The ego is usually less primitive compared to the id and is usually partly unconscious and partly conscious. Sigmund Freud referred to the ego as the actual self which usually tries to achieve a balance between the demands of the superego and the id in a realistic context. While the superego can make one feel wrong about themselves and the id would make one want things for themselves, the ego would achieve a balance between feeling good and having something for oneself. The ego would try to avoid an unpleasant social situation and any potential shameful feelings.
Freud noted that the id, ego, and superego are in constant conflict and that the personality and behavior of an adult are usually based on the results of the internal struggles throughout one’s childhood (Kernberg, 2016). He noted that an individual that has a strong ego usually has a healthy personality. Any imbalances in the system can lead to neurosis experienced through anxiety depression, and an array of unhealthy behaviors.
The Stages of Development
Sigmund Freud noted that most human suffering is usually determined by childhood development. He placed emphasis that individuals go through the five stages of development. As one goes through the stages, there can be unresolved conflicts between social expectations that may arise (Schultz & Schultz, 2016).
The first stage is the oral stage that occurs between zero and 1.5 years of age. The fixation at this stage is on oral. If not satisfactory, there is the chance of developing negative oral behaviors and habits in the future. The second stage is the anal stage which occurs between 1.5 and 3 years of age. The stage is usually concerned with the development of healthy toilet habits. The phallic stage occurs between 3 and 5 years of age. The stage involves the development of a healthy substitute for the sexual attractions boys and girls usually have towards parents of the opposite gender. The latency stage occurs between 5 and 12 years of age. One develops healthy dominant sexual feelings for an individual of the opposite sex. The genital stage occurs from 12 years to adulthood. All the tasks from the previous stages are usually integrated into the mind for the onset of healthy behaviors and sexual feelings.
In conclusion, Sigmund Freud proposed the personality theory through the ego, the superego, and the id. The id deals with the selfish self that seeks gain for oneself while the superego deals with the moral and social conscious self. The ego is the actual self and strives to achieve a balance between the id and superego. These types of personality are usually analyzed through the different stages of development that include the oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital self. The theory also notes that the ability of an individual to resolve internal conflicts at the different stages of development can determine the future functioning and coping ability.
References
Cervone, D., & Little, B. R. (2019). Personality architecture and dynamics: The new agenda and what's new about it. Personality and Individual Differences , 136 , 12-23.
Kernberg, O. F. (2016). What is personality? Journal of Personality Disorders , 30 (2), 145-156.
Schultz, D. P., & Schultz, S. E. (2016). Theories of personality . Cengage Learning.
