Freud's Id, Ego and Superego Explained

Summary

This script explores Sigmund Freud's theory of the human psyche, highlighting the id, ego, and superego. The id represents our primal desires, the superego our moral compass, and the ego mediates between them and reality. It discusses how these elements shape our behavior and internal conflicts, using the iceberg metaphor to illustrate the conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Freud's Model: Freud described the human psyche as having three parts: the id, ego, and superego, each with distinct roles and characteristics.
• 🌊 Iceberg Metaphor: Freud used an iceberg to illustrate the mind, with the ego as the conscious part above water, the id as the unconscious part beneath, and the superego straddling both.
• 🐉 The Id: The id represents our primal, instinctual drives and is the first part of the psyche to develop, operating on the pleasure principle and seeking immediate gratification.
• 👶 Childhood and the Id: The id is likened to a child, suggesting that its impulsive nature is a natural, early stage of human development that we all experience.
• 🔥 Desire and Temptation: The id is driven by desire and temptation, often leading to conflicting impulses that do not adhere to societal norms or logic.
• 👼 The Superego: The superego acts as a moral compass, internalizing societal values and punishing deviations with guilt and shame, aiming for long-term alignment with an ideal self.
• 🕊️ Superego's Dual Role: It consists of the conscience, which enforces moral codes, and the ego ideal, which represents our aspirations and guides us towards self-improvement.
• 🤔 The Ego's Role: The ego mediates between the demands of the id, superego, and reality, striving for a balance and making decisions based on the reality principle.
• 🔄 Conflict and Consciousness: Consciousness arises from the conflict between the id's desires and the superego's moral standards, with the ego navigating this internal struggle.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Ego's Challenge: The ego's task is to reconcile the id's impulses, the superego's ideals, and the external world's demands, often a complex and challenging balancing act.

Q & A

What are the three parts of the human psyche according to Sigmund Freud?

The three parts of the human psyche according to Sigmund Freud are the ego, the id, and the superego.

What does the id represent in Freud's model of the psyche?

The id represents the primitive and instinctual drives, including physiological needs and desires, and operates on the pleasure principle.

How does the superego function as a counterbalance to the id?

The superego functions as a counterbalance to the id by representing the moral code internalized from parents and society, punishing deviations with guilt and shame, and guiding towards long-term thinking and ideal self-alignment.

What is the role of the ego in Freud's structural model?

The ego in Freud's model serves as the mediator between the id, superego, and reality, making judgments and decisions to find a balance while satisfying the demands of the id and superego.

What metaphor did Freud use to describe the structure of the mind?

Freud used the metaphor of an iceberg to describe the structure of the mind, with the conscious part above water representing the ego and the unconscious parts below representing the id and partially the superego.

What does the term 'das Es' signify in the original German context of Freud's theory?

In the original German, 'das Es' signifies 'the it' and is a neuter term, which Freud used to represent the id, emphasizing its primal and instinctual nature, akin to how children are referred to before they learn to repress their impulses.

How does the id's operation differ from that of the superego and ego?

The id operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of desires and impulses without concern for reality or societal norms, unlike the superego which is guided by moral codes and long-term thinking, and the ego which evaluates and mediates between these forces and reality.

What is the significance of the ego being 'above the water' in Freud's iceberg metaphor?

In Freud's iceberg metaphor, the ego being 'above the water' signifies that it is the part of the mind that is most in contact with and aware of reality, as opposed to the id and superego which have aspects that are unconscious.

How does Freud's concept of the id relate to a child's behavior?

Freud's concept of the id relates to a child's behavior as it represents the uncontrolled expression of desires and impulses, similar to how children have not yet learned to suppress their wants and needs in accordance with societal expectations.

What are some traits associated with the superego?

Traits associated with the superego include striving for socially acceptable behavior, feelings of guilt and shame, internalized authority from parents and society, long-term thinking, and being characterized as the inner parent or angel on one's shoulder.

Why has the term 'ego' developed a negative connotation in English-speaking countries?

The term 'ego' has developed a negative connotation in English-speaking countries partly due to the disconnection from the original German term 'das Ich', which means 'the I' and does not carry the same negative implications as it became in English.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Freud's Structural Model of the Psyche

This paragraph introduces Sigmund Freud's theory of the human psyche, which is divided into three parts: the ego, the id, and the superego. Freud used the metaphor of an iceberg to illustrate these components, with the ego being the conscious part above water, the id being the unconscious part beneath, and the superego being partly conscious and partly unconscious. The id is described as the primal, instinctual part of the mind present from birth, driven by the pleasure principle and containing libido. It is characterized by desires and impulses without concern for logic or societal norms. The superego, on the other hand, represents the moral conscience and ego ideal, aiming to align behavior with societal expectations and internalized parental values. It operates on long-term thinking and uses negative emotions like guilt and shame to regulate behavior. The ego serves as the mediator between the id, superego, and reality, striving to balance these conflicting demands.

05:01

🤔 The Role and Characteristics of the Ego

The second paragraph delves deeper into the role of the ego, which is often misunderstood due to the translation of Freud's work into English. The ego, or 'das Ich' in German, represents the conscious thinking mind and is tasked with balancing the demands of the id, superego, and reality. It is portrayed as having a difficult job, often caught between the desires of the id and the moral standards of the superego, as well as the constraints of reality. The ego is the decision-making faculty, aiming to find a balance and make judgments that satisfy both internal drives and external expectations. It is characterized by its ability to evaluate, decide, and think consciously. The paragraph also discusses how the ego's emergence is a result of the conflict between the id and superego, and how it casts the deciding vote in the psyche's internal dynamics.

Keywords

💡Psyche

The psyche refers to the totality of the human mind, including conscious and unconscious elements. In the context of the video, it is central to understanding Freud's theory of the mind, which posits that the psyche is composed of the ego, id, and superego. The video uses the iceberg metaphor to illustrate how different parts of the psyche operate at different levels of consciousness.

💡Ego

The ego represents the conscious thinking mind and is the mediator between the id and the superego. It is described as being 'above the water' in the iceberg metaphor, signifying its position in the conscious part of the mind. The ego's role is to manage the desires of the id and the moral standards of the superego while also considering the demands of reality.

💡Id

The id is the part of the psyche that contains the basic animal instincts, desires, and impulses. It operates on the 'pleasure principle,' seeking immediate gratification without regard for logic or societal norms. The video describes the id as the 'engine of desires' and likens it to the 'inner child' or 'devil on your shoulder,' emphasizing its role in driving our most primal urges.

💡Superego

The superego is the part of the psyche that represents moral standards, ideals, and the critical voice that judges our actions. It is partly conscious and partly unconscious, as it is influenced by societal norms and internalized parental expectations. The video explains that the superego is the 'angel on your shoulder,' striving for socially acceptable behavior and using guilt and shame to deter from undesirable actions.

💡Conscious

Consciousness in the video refers to the part of the mind that is aware and can be introspected. It is likened to the part of the iceberg above water, representing the aspects of the mind that we are directly aware of. The ego is the primary component of the conscious mind, responsible for decision-making and interaction with the external world.

💡Unconscious

The unconscious is the part of the mind that is not directly accessible to our conscious awareness but influences our behavior and emotions. The video uses the metaphor of the submerged part of the iceberg to represent the unconscious, which includes the id and the repressed aspects of the superego. It is the reservoir of instincts, desires, and memories that are not immediately available to consciousness.

💡Libido

Libido, in Freudian theory, refers to the primary instinctual energy or life force that drives individuals towards pleasure and satisfaction of their desires. The video mentions libido as a key component of the id, highlighting its role in our most basic and powerful drives, such as hunger and sexual desire.

💡Pleasure Principle

The pleasure principle is a fundamental concept in Freudian psychology that describes the id's drive to seek pleasure and avoid pain. The video explains that the id operates on this principle, seeking immediate gratification without concern for reality or societal expectations.

💡Reality Principle

The reality principle is introduced as the ego's approach to managing the demands of the id and superego in light of the real-world constraints. It is the ego's method of balancing the immediate desires of the id with the moral standards of the superego and the practical demands of the external world.

💡Conscience

Conscience, as part of the superego, represents the internalized moral code that guides our behavior. The video describes how the conscience is formed from the 'shoulds' and 'should-nots' of our culture and家庭教育, and it uses guilt and shame to enforce adherence to these moral standards.

💡Ego Ideal

The ego ideal is the part of the superego that represents an individual's ideal self-image, aspirations, and the standards they strive to meet. The video explains that aligning with the ego ideal leads to feelings of pride and accomplishment, contrasting with the guilt and shame associated with the conscience.

Highlights

Freud's theory of the human psyche includes three parts: the ego, the id, and the superego.

The id represents our primal, instinctual drives and is present from birth.

The id operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification.

The superego acts as a moral compass, derived from societal and parental influences.

The superego is partly conscious and partly unconscious, influencing our sense of right and wrong.

The ego's role is to mediate between the demands of the id, superego, and reality.

The ego is often misunderstood, with its true function being to balance internal and external pressures.

The id can be seen as the 'inner child' or 'devil', representing our most basic desires.

The superego includes the conscience and the ego ideal, guiding us towards moral behavior and self-improvement.

The ego uses the reality principle to make decisions based on practicality and logic.

Conflicts between the id, superego, and reality are a driving force behind human behavior.

The German terms 'das Es' and 'das Ich' have connotations that were lost in English translations.

The id's lack of gender in German reflects its primal, unsocialized nature.

The superego's use of guilt and shame contrasts with the ego ideal's use of pride and accomplishment.

The ego's task is to find a balance that satisfies the id, superego, and external world.

The concept of the id, ego, and superego helps us understand the complexity of human psychology.

Freud's iceberg metaphor illustrates the conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind.

Transcripts

According to the father of psychology Sigmund Freud, there are three parts of the

human psyche: the ego, the id and the superego. These are originally Latin terms

meaning 'I', 'it' and 'upper-I'. In his 1915 paper the Unconscoius, Sigmund

Freud used an iceberg as a metaphor for this triple structure of the mind. The part

of the iceberg above water corresponds to the conscious parts of the mind. On the other

hand, everything beneath the surface is unconscious.

The ego is above the water; the id is beneath. The superego is a bit above and a bit

below?-partly conscious and partly unconscious. Each part has its own nature and role

within the mind. The conflicting interests of these three are the driving force of all

human conflicts. Id/ 'the it'

In the beginning, there was the id. It is the only one of the three parts we are born

with. The others two elements of the mind develop

later out of this id. This part of the mind is all nature and no nurture. Down here all

the physiological, animal drives, impulses and instincts run wild.

You can think of the id as the animal in you. Its voice is loud when you are hungry,

when you are horny or anytime you see red. It contains libido which is the primary

instinctual energy. ? The id is not organised according to logic.

You can have contradictory impulses existing side by side without cancelling each

other out. Take for example a hungover person who wants to drink and also wants not

to move. These impulses contradict each other but they are both coming from the

same place. The organising principle of the id is the

pleasure principle?-it works by what feels good. What society thinks doesn't matter;

reality doesn't matter. The id is about desire and pleasure. Everything else is irrelevant.

According to psychoanalyst Bruno Bettelheim, there is a quirk to the original German

word for the id that got lost in translation. The original German term 'das Es' is neuter.

That is to say that unlike der Mann?-the man?-or die Frau?-the woman?-das Es is

neither masculine nor feminine. The same goes for the German word for child 'das

Kind': Thus in German the word' child' (das Kind)

is of neuter gender. During their early years all Germans have the experience

of being referred to by means of the neuter pronoun 'es' (Latin: 'id'). This

fact gives the phrase 'das Es' a special feeling, reminding the German reader that

this is how he was referred to before he learned to repress many of his sexual,

aggressive, and otherwise asocial impulses [...] it reminds him of a time when

his entire existence was dominated by the 'it'. These memories, even when one

is not conscious of them, permit a much more immediate empathy with what Freud

meant when he used this term for the unconscious.

We often think of the powerful impulses which overwhelm us as the devil on our

shoulder. It is difficult to have sympathy for the devil. Making a devil and an 'it'

of the unconscious is not the foundation of a great

relationship. But this connection between the id and the

child helps. When a child throws a temper tantrum in the sweets and confectionery aisle,

we don't think of them as evil. We say they don't know better. That is a helpful

attitude to cultivate towards the id. It is not trying to derail you and it is not

scheming against you. The id is pure nature burning inside of you. It's a furnace of desire.

Those desires may not align with the agenda of the superego or reality, but that's

not the concern of the id. The tantrum-throwing child isn't evil. That's

not to say you should indulge them. It means their inability to control their desire

is understandable. Okay so let's take a look at a few Traits

of the id. It is an Engine of desires, impulses, and drives. It's Pleasure-seeking. It's Unresponsive

to demands of reality and social mores. We find that contrary impulses can

exist side by side in the id. It is Selfish and

wilful. It is characterised by Strong emotions and by Short-term thinking? and seeking

of instant gratification. It is the the inner child/devil on your shoulder. It is governed

by The pleasure principle and it is the Home of libido.

The mechanism of the id is Desire and temptation i.e. if you want it badly enough, you

will do it

Superego/ 'the upper-I' Where the id is 'I want', the superego is

'I should'. The superego is the counterbalance to the id in the psyche. It has two parts:

the conscience and the ego ideal. The conscience is the integrated shoulds and

should-nots of our culture. It is the moral code internalised from our parents and society.

If we fail to adhere to this moral code, the superego punishes us with feelings of

guilt and shame. When the id says I don't want to go to bed,

the superego says 'you must go to bed, and not only that but you must brush your teeth

as well'. The second aspect of the superego is the ego

ideal. This is the inner vision of your best self. Aligning with your ego ideal leads to

feelings of pride, value and accomplishment. The superego is not concerned with instant

gratification like the id. This part of the mind turns on long-term thinking. Everything

it does is an attempt to align you with your ideal self and to steer you away from

bad behaviours. It's always trying to move you towards what you should be. You can think

of the superego as the angel on your shoulder.

The traits of the superego include: Striving to act in a socially acceptable manner,

charactersied by feelings of Guilt, shame and inadequacy. It is the voice of authority

Internalised from your parents and society. It is characterised by long-term thinking

and you can think of it as the Inner parent/angel on the shoulder.

The mechanism of the superego is using negative emotion to slam on the brakes. It

makes you feel bad to curb your enthusiasm. The logic is that if you feel bad enough,

you will take heed of it. On the flip side with the ego ideal side of

the superego the mechanism is positive emotions such as pride and feelings of value

and accomplishment as you align with it more and more.

Ego/'the I' The ego has got an even worse reputation than

the superego. It has become a slur and a punching bag for everything that's wrong in

the world. One reason for this is due to the translation

of Freud's concept into English. In the original German, the ego is 'das Ich' which

means 'the I'. Unlike ego, it is not a foreign or a technical word but something a German

would hear and use every day of their lives. The disconnection between the term

ego and everyday language paved the way for the errant evolution of the term in English-speaking

countries. But this reputation shows a lot of ingratitude.

The ego is nothing more or less than the 'I' of the individual. It is your conscious

thinking mind that you identify with. And it

has a tough job. The ego has to serve three masters. It has

the should of the superego and the impulses of the id to contend with as we know. And

as if holding its ground between this rock and that hard place wasn't complicated enough,

it also has to serve reality. These three masters lead the ego around in

a loop. Sometimes the id and reality tug one way and superego tugs the other way?-think

of youth culture and peer pressure. Sometimes reality sides with the superego

but the id is determined to go the opposite direction which is a common situation in crime.

The ego is the balancer. Ideally, it is the judging faculty evaluating which course to

take. Sometimes it's just the slave to the loudest voice?-be it id or superego.

Consciousness itself was born out of this conflict of interests. The id in you bubbles

up with impulses, and the superego tries to tug

you the other way. Out of this conflict, the ego arises. The ego's job is to adjudicate

between the many demands in the psyche and the world. The ego casts the deciding vote.

The Traits of the ego are that it is the reality principle. It serves three masters: id,

superego and external world. Its task is to find balance between the internal drives and

the external reality while satisfying the id and superego. And it is characterised by

Judgement, decision-making, conscious thinking and evaluation

These are the three parts of your mind according to Freud. The id tells you what you

want, the superego tells you what you should do, and your ego makes the final call.

The happiest days are when your superego and id are in alignment with reality, and

everything moves swimmingly. As we all know, such days are rare. The journey in life

is learning to find the biting point where everyone at the table leaves content.

That's everything for this episode of the living philosophy. If you've enjoyed it please

give the video a thumbs up down below and if you have any thoughts insights of

feedback I'd love to hear from you down in the comments otherwise I shall see you

next time thanks for watching