Superego

Superego is a term used in the field of psychoanalysis to describe one of the three components of the psyche as defined by Sigmund Freud. The other two components are the id and the ego. The superego is the ethical component of the personality and provides the moral standards by which the ego operates.

Overview

The superego's function is to control the id's impulses, especially those which society forbids, such as sex and aggression. It also has the function of persuading the ego to turn to moralistic goals rather than simply realistic ones and to strive for perfection. The superego consists of two systems: The conscience and the ideal self. The conscience can punish the ego through causing feelings of guilt. For example, if the ego gives in to the id's demands, the superego may make the person feel bad through guilt. The ideal self (or ego-ideal) is an imaginary picture of how you ought to be, and represents career aspirations, how to treat other people, and how to behave as a member of society.

Development

Freud believed that the superego is formed in childhood and is shaped by the moral and ethical standards of one's parents or caregivers. The superego develops during the phallic stage of psychosexual development, when the child identifies with the same sex parent. The superego becomes a sort of internal authority, setting rules and standards for behavior.

Role in Psychoanalysis

In psychoanalysis, the superego is considered to be the part of the mind that internalizes societal rules and norms. It acts as a self-critical conscience, reflecting social standards learned from parents and teachers. The superego works in contradiction to the id. The id is the primitive and instinctual part of the mind that contains sexual and aggressive drives and hidden memories, the super-ego operates as a moral conscience, and the ego is the realistic part that mediates between the desires of the id and the super-ego.

See also

• Id, ego and super-ego
• Psychosexual development
• Sigmund Freud
• Psychoanalysis

Superego Resources
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