Summary Of Sigmund Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality explains the development of personality based on the interaction between Structural Modal agencies, namely id, ego and superego. The hedonistic id is the innate and primitive component present since birth, consisting instinctual drives: Eros, which is the life instinct as well as Thanatos which is the death instinct. Id operates on the pleasure-principle, demanding immediate gratification to avoid pain elicited when demands are not satisfied, regardless of the consequences. However, instant gratification may be impossible at times, hence inducing psychological tension. To minimize the arising tension, id engages in the primary process of forming mental images of desired objects, including

Ego exists in all three levels of awareness: conscious, preconscious, unconscious. Ego engages in the secondary process to obtain id’s demands in actual form while adhering to the reality principle to moderate between the pleasure-seeking id, moralistic superego and the realistic world. In other words, ego serves as the executive director to satisfy id’s desires in rational and socially acceptable ways, to obey superego’s moral standards while minimizing possible negative outcomes of actions. Superego is the moral component that evolves during childhood through process of incorporation and defensive identification. Superego obeys the morality principle to ensure socially acceptable behaviours. Besides, superego consists of two components: ego ideal, motivating moral behaviours for rewards and conscience, hindering immoral behaviours to avoid negative consequences. Freud proposed that high ego strength maintains balance between id, superego and the reality develops healthy personality, whereas low ego strength results in imbalance, hence forming maladaptive personalities and anxiety. To mediate anxiety, ego equips defense mechanisms which unconsciously distort unacceptable

If ego dominates Linda’s personality, Linda would try to resolve the conflict between the id’s demands of pursuing love and companion, superego’s rigid moralistic goals and the reality. So, Linda might find practical ways to obtains her wants while abiding the moral values. For instance, she would think thoroughly about her marriage with Mike, considering both his and her mistakes. Then, she might consider discussing with Mike for a divorce, after taking into account the consequences of doing so and the feasibility of her actions in socially acceptable manners. This process would likely include temporary suppression of her id’s gratification, to minimize the possible implications of impulsive and irrational actions of continue cheating. Additionally, Linda would balance between her own desires and the wellbeing of her family, particularly Angel. She might consider her ability to take custody of Linda after the divorce from aspects of financial independence and both Damian and Angel’s ability to accept each other as step family members. To aid Angel in understanding and accepting her parent’s divorce, Linda might take several initiatives including having a conversation with Angel to explain the reasons and guide her to accept step by step. This would reduce the shock and impact on Angel, a six-year-old child in accepting