Exploring the ID, Ego, and Super Ego - Term Paper Example

?31 October Exploring the Id, Ego, and Superego It was Sigmund Freud who identified the Id, Ego, and the Superego. These three components of thepsyche are found in every human being. They affect perceptions, thoughts, and actions. The intriguing aspect of these effects is that they occur without the person’s knowledge. For the most part, people do not know the true explanation for their behavior because the actions of the psyche are so automatic that the untrained individual is unable to witness them. As it has been reported, “…in our psychic world, sediments are formed that unconsciously direct and lead us, often in ways in which we are only vaguely aware” (Gostecnic 2010). .A deeper understanding of these components enable one to better understand why they take certain actions and make decisions as they do. However, it would be very difficult for them to understand what is influencing their actions at every moment. Such information would take great attentiveness and a high level of self–awareness, if it is possible at all. Nevertheless, the information that can be gathered can assist a person in making strategic life changes, increase will power, and cope with stress. Beyond the personal benefits of knowledge of the id, ego, and superego, such information can be used to recognize the activity of these three psyche components in others. Such recognition allows for better relations and communication. The informed may be more readily able to forgive another as they recognize that it was not the person who is at fault, but rather, an issue with their psyche’s components. In fact the id, ego, and superego can be measured and the measurements are often accurate in predicting problem areas and strengths in behavior for the subject. As it has been reported, “The scale of the ego strength correlates positively with a measure indicating aspects of behavioral self-control. The scale measuring sense of identity correlates positively with measures of adaptive ego strength and of behavioral self-control, and negatively with a measure of behavioral conflict and one measure of toughmindedness”(Cartwright & DeBruin 1998). These three components of the psyche are so important that every person would stand to benefit from their exploration. The id is the part of the psyche that is primarily unconscious. In other words, this is the part that many are unaware of. It has been reported that, “the id is the oldest and most primitive psychic agency, representing the biological foundations of personality. It is the reservoir of basic instinctual drives, particularly sexual (libidinal) drives, which motivate the organism to seek pleasure” (Lapsley & Stey 2011; p.1).The id’s actions are quiet, yet powerful. It is on the basis of the existence of the id that many practice hypnotism. After being hypnotized, people’s actions change without them understanding the reasons why. The messengers were impressed upon their subconscious mind, the id. Since the id does not function at the level of consciousness people who are hypnotized are unable to recall the message. It has been reported that “hypnosis involves induction of a state of mind in which a person’s normal critical or skeptical nature is bypassed, allowing for acceptance of suggestions” (Stewart 2005; p 511). This ‘skeptical nature’ is a part of the psyche that will be discussed later in the course of this paper. The place in the mind that is uncovered, where suggestions can be imputed is the id. The power of the id can be seen through the medical use of hypnosis. Hypnosis has successfully been used to reduce pain (Hypnosis: Controlling the pain 2000) and change negative behaviors (Hutchison-Phillips 2005). It also has great applications in the treatment of mental illnesses (Jensen, 2010). In contrast, the ego is the actual consciousness of a human being. The ego is the way by which life is experienced. People are completely aware of this aspect of the psyche, even if they have never studied it. The ego is the complete opposite of the id. While the id remains hidden and works in the background the ego works in the forefront and is the person’s self. Of the ego it has been written that, It is the “executive’ of the personality in the sense that it regulates libidinal drive energies so that satisfaction accords with the demands of reality. It is the center of reason, reality-testing, and commonsense, and has at its command a range of defensive stratagems that can deflect, repress, or transform the expression of unrealistic or forbidden drive energies. (Lapsley & Stey 2011). In other words, the ego is the place where people make decisions, conscious ones. The desires of the id are denied at the ego level if the person decides that they do not want to take such actions. The sophistication of a man is found in his ego. The primitive, animalistic tendencies are products of the id. The function of the ego is to suppress the desires of the id when the search for pleasure is not a rational action. People who have issues with self control may be found to have a strong id and a weak ego. People who have suppressed their emotions to the point that they experience negative side effects may be found to have a strong ego and a weak id. It is for this reason that hypnosis works. To hypnotize someone is essentially to role back their ego and speak to their id. Without the ego there to block the messages the id can convinced. Unlike the ego, it does not function rationally and will take any suggestion. The ego therefore is necessary for civilized human beings. Younger than the id, the ego’s development is a part of the evolution of man from primitive beings to the highly rational people that they are today. However, information does not just jump from the id to the ego. The id is not left in peace to appeal directly to the ego for the accomplishment of its desires without hindrance. It has a mediator through which it must send its messengers. That mediator is the superego. The superego is somewhere between consciousness and unconsciousness and has functions in both. It is in the superego that the ideal self is stored. This is the place where the ideas of right and wrong are stored. As such, the superego is subject to be influenced by socialization. It is in the superego that social norms are stored. Due to the very nature of the superego it is always at war with the id. The id does not give any regard to the rules or norm of society but rules and standards is what the superego is all about. For example, the id would call for a person to make love to desirable strangers, but the superego, filled with the ideal self and perfect in morals would call for containment of those passions. The ego would be left with the decision to yield to the prodding of the id or obey the rationality of the superego. Ideally, the id is not left to do its bidding but must go through the superego. The superego, therefore, holds a great responsibility for the feelings of guilt and shame that a person experiences. The person hears the desires of the id, the warnings of the superego, and feels as if they should be convicted for the id’s naughty desires. As it has been reported, The concept (the superego) includes these moral emotions, shame and guilt, and their regulators, as well as internalizations of traits of others and of patterns of relating to important others, repetitions of traumatic situations that one has been unable to mater, and the source of internal regulation that underlies self-defeating. Self-harming, and self-sabotaging thought and action… (Lansky 2002; p. 153). The pull of the id can be very strong and its desires, when acted out, can often lead to trouble. The superego, as finger-pointer and moral dictator, highlights the inappropriateness. The ego, flustered to make the correct judgments when witnessing the argument, does not always choose what is best for the individual. Nevertheless, the superego is a very important component of the psyche, as are the ego and the id. They all have their different roles and functions which prove vital. Should a person be capable of understanding the functions of the psyche along with its three components, they may be able to relinquish some of their stress, knowing that their faults are not a clear case of their guilt. While transferring the blame of personality defects to the components of the psyche is not recommended, such knowledge may allow for a sigh of relieve, as understanding is the first step to a cure. It is interesting to see that human beings, by design have a constant war within them. The id will always be an advocate for its desires of passion and pleasure. The superego will always respond with its moral standards and picturesque idealism. The ego will continue to bear the burden of figuring out whom to listen to when interacting with various environments. This mix does not always function well, as the ego, superego, and id can respectively be found at different levels of strength in each individual. Works Cited Cartwright, D., & DeBruin, J. (1988) “Imagery Measures of Ego, Id, Superego, and Identity: Validity Studies” Multivariate Behavioral Research 23:505-515. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed October 29, 2011). Gostecnik, C., Repic, T., Cvetek, M., & Cvetek, R., (2010). “Hidden Mission of the Psyche in Abuse and Addiction. Journal of Religion & Health, 49(3): 361-376. Doi: 10.1007/s10943-009-9264-8. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed October 29, 2011). Hutchinson-Phillips, S., Jamieson, G., and Gow, K. “Differing Roles of Imagination and Hypnosis in Self-Regulation of Eating Behavior.” Contemporary Hypnosis (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) 22.4 (2005): 171-183. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. “Hypnosis: Controlling the Pain, Controlling Your Health.” Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter 18.8 (2000):4. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. Jensen, Gordon Duff et al. “Spiritual-Hypnosis Assisted Therapy: A New Culturally-Sensitive Approach to the Treatment and Prevention of Mental Disorders. “ Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health 12.3 (2010): 195-208. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. Lansky, Melvin R. “Conscience And The Project Of A Psychoanalytic Science Of Human Nature: Clarification Of The Usefulness Of The Superego Concept” Psychoanalytic Inquiry 24.2 (2004): 151-174. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. Stewart, James H. “Hypnosis in Contemporary Medicine.” Mayo Clinic Proceedings 80.4 (2005):511-524. Academic Search Complete, EBSCO. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. Read More