Sigmund Freud conceived a theory which entailed that the human psyche (personality) has more than one aspect to it. He then saw it as made up of three parts, titled "The ID, Ego and Superego" and suggested these three parts develop individually at different stages of our life.
"The Id"
The Id consists of the primitive and instinctive aspect of the human psyche. Anything inherited or biological regarding to the persons personality such as the sex instinct as well as the instinct to become violent/aggressive towards someone who poses as a dangerous threat. It is the impulsive side to us that responds immediately and directly to the stimulus experienced. For example the personality of a new born child consists of all Id and develops a super ego and an ego later on in life.
The id allows us to feel pleasure when the natural impulse is fulfilled. However if it is not fulfilled then you are to experience pain or discomfort. The Id abides by the pleasure principle which entails fulfilling a desire immediately after feeling the urge regardless of the outcome or consequence.
"The Ego"
The ego acts as the balancing point between the Id and the superego. It develops to act as a restrainer of the Id so that you aren't susceptible to the impulses that envelop from the Id. To put in other words, the ego is the voice of reason.
The ego works on the "reality principle" which means it often satisfies the impulses of the Id whilst simultaneously compromising/postponing this urge based on social norms. Like the id the ego seeks pleasure and avoids pain however the ego contemplates a realistic view of how this pleasure would be obtained.
The ego is weak in comparison to the id, which means although the ego is not in complete control, it is able to point the Id in the right direction of where it wants to go.
The ego maintains to concept of right and wrong. As long as the pleasure is achieved and no harm has been done to it during the process then the ego credits this as a success.
"The SuperEgo"
The SuperEgo incorporates morals and social values into the thinking process. These are the morals that we learn from our parents during childhood. The superego develops around the ages of 3-5 years old, during the phallic stage of psychosexual development.
The superego is more of a perfectionist than the ego. It attempts to make sure the ego abides to the more moralistic goals rather than simply the realistic ones. Like the ego, it controls the Id's impulses to maintain a certain standard. This includes restricting sex and aggression.
The superego consists of two parts, the "conscience" and "the ideal self". The conscience can make the ego feel bad by giving in to the demands of the Id. The superego supplies the feelings of guilt if this were to occur. The ideal-self is the imaginary image of how you are supposed to be, or how you are expected top behave within society.
behaviour which doesn't meet the standard of the idea self will be punished by the super ego through guilt. On the other hand, the superego also rewards, if behaviour reaches the standards of the ideal self, by making you feel proud.
If the ideal self is of too high a standard then then it is much more difficult to achieve the standards set and therefore will always represent failure.
The ideal self and conscience are largely determined during adolescence as well as through parental values you learn whilst growing up.
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