
The ego recognizes that other people have needs and wants too, and that being selfish is not always good for us in the long run. This may mean delaying gratification, and helping to get rid of the tension the id feels if a desire is not met right away. The ego deals with reality, trying to meet the desires of the id in a way that is socially acceptable in the world. He just wanted his vehicle to move! Enraged at the situation, Bart pulled his car onto the shoulder and sped forward, not caring that he was clipping people’s side mirrors as he tried to get ahead of the cars in front of him. In line at the salad bar, Amy was so hungry that she shoved a handful of croutons in her mouth as she waited for the line to move.On Black Friday, customers were so obsessed with getting a good deal that they shoved others out of their way and trampled them, not thinking twice about hurting people if it meant they could get want they wanted.As Nick walked away, Michael bent over, picked up the money, and slipped it into his pocket, glancing around to make sure no one was looking. Michael saw a $5 bill fall out of Nick’s backpack as he pulled his books out of his locker.A toddler who wanted another helping of dessert whined incessantly until she was given another serving.Smith’s water glass, much to his surprise.

Rather than waiting for the server to refill her glass of water, she reached across the table and drank from Mr. If these needs or wants are not met, a person becomes tense or anxious. The id is the most basic part of the personality, and wants instant gratification for our wants and needs. According to Freud, these three parts combine to create the complex behavior of human beings. This cultural bias may limit the applicability of the theory to diverse populations and contemporary social issues.The id, ego, and superego are names for the three parts of the human personality which are part of Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic personality theory. Some critics argue that Freud’s theory reduces complex human behavior to basic biological instincts and drives, oversimplifying the intricacies of human decision-making and social interactions.įreud’s theory has been criticized for being influenced by the cultural context in which it was developed, particularly the Victorian era’s views on sexuality and morality. The concepts are difficult to measure or test scientifically, leading some to question their validity.įreud’s theory has been criticized for placing too much emphasis on unconscious processes and not adequately accounting for the role of conscious decision-making and rational thought in human behavior. Shortcomings and Criticisms of Id, Ego, SuperegoĪ major criticism of the Id, Ego, and Superego concept is the lack of empirical evidence to support Freud’s theory. When someone is faced with a moral dilemma, the conflict between the Id’s desires, the Ego’s rationality, and the Superego’s moral values become evident as the individual struggles to make a decision that satisfies all three components.įeelings of guilt or pride in response to one’s actions reflect the influence of the Superego, which evaluates behavior based on internalized moral standards and societal values. When a person acts impulsively to fulfill a desire without considering the consequences or societal expectations, it demonstrates the dominance of the Id over the Ego and Superego.Ī person who finds a socially acceptable way to satisfy a desire, such as indulging in a small treat instead of overeating, illustrates the Ego’s ability to mediate between the Id’s impulses and the Superego’s moral constraints.

The Superego represents the internalized societal values and moral standards, functioning as a moral compass and creating feelings of guilt or pride depending on how well one’s actions align with those standards. The Ego functions as a mediator between the Id and the external world, using the reality principle to assess situations and find rational solutions to satisfy the Id’s desires in a socially acceptable way. The Id represents instinctual desires and drives, operating on the pleasure principle, which seeks immediate gratification. These components work together to shape an individual’s behavior and decision-making processes. Id, Ego, and Superego are the three components of the human psyche according to Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory.
