Id, Ego, and Superego

26F01LA

Shared with permission of the author:  C.T.

Though I disagree with a few of Freud's ideas, I do think that his observations about the id, ego, and superego are valid. At the very least, his findings and observations lend credence to the idea that such things exist within us. Not only do they exist within us; they exist quite pervasively, enough to affect every facet of our lives. Freud asserts that each of these components are separate and perform different functions, but come together - and sometimes overlap - to create a single dynamic whole. Before I attempt to illustrate the validity of these ideas by offering an example from my own life, I shall be using the following definitions for the id, ego, and superego.

"The id is the source of our unconscious impulses toward fulfillment of our needs. It operates according to the pleasure principle, that is, striving for immediate gratification. In other words, the id wants whatever seems satisfying and enjoyable - and it wants it now. The impatient, greedy infant screaming for food in the middle of the night is all id."

"[T]he ego…mediate[s] between the unbridled demands of the id and the limits imposed by the real world. The ego is said to operate according to the reality principle: it attempts to satisfy the id's demands in ways that recognize life as it is, not as the id wants it to be."

"The superego is like a relentless conscience that distinguishes right from wrong in no uncertain terms. Its prime objective is to keep the id in check. In this regard, it is the function of the ego to mediate between the prime desires of the id and the superego's unbending effort to inhibit those desires."

--Class handout: Excerpt from The Developing Person Through the Life Span, Second Edition, by Kathleen S. Berger, p. 34

So basically, the id just wants what it wants, without much consideration for how to get it, or what repercussions may follow. The superego frowns severely upon this, because it seems all the possible tangible consequences and moral implications of such unscrupulous actions. The poor ego, sandwiched in the middle, has to find some way to establish some middle ground, where both the id and superego can compromise.

When thinking of an example to best illustrate these concepts, none seemed more appropriate than something that happened to me when I was about 11 or 12 years old. My family situation slowly got from bad to worse (at least, it had in my young mind), and I had gotten the idea of running away into my head.

"Just leave! Can you possibly stand to be treated like this?! No, you can't! So just go!" my id screeched. For a few moments, I actually considered the idea. I packed and grabbed what little money I had and stuffed it into my pockets. My ego immediately began to rattle off names of people with whom I could stay, people who would not have the slightest inclination to call my parents and cause a scene. Also, being quite the practical thing, my ego began to calculate how long I could last without a home and live on the amount of money I had been able to gather. Before long, my superego took notice of its counterparts' activities.

Booming downward from its lofty heights, my superego calmly posed questions for me to answer. "Whose clothing are you wearing? Yours, to be sure, but who got them for you? Yourself? Certainly not. Whose money and whose possessions are you carrying? Yes, they're yours. But how did you get them?" I began to see its point, but my id refused to acknowledge such arguments, no matter how gentle or how right. The superego continued, undaunted by the id's obstinacy.

"How do you think other people will view you after you leave? You do realize that everyone has a place in the family, right? And everyone has a responsibility to live up to their given role. 'How poorly that ungrateful girl has fare!' they would exclaim. 'How unappreciative, and how lacking in good character!' And they would be right. You're not even acknowledging one-tenth of the sacrifices your parents made for you. How can you be expected to honor them if you are of such a selfish mind? How dare you treat your parents as if they were something you could disavow or discard! Everyone has responsibilities, and you are not exempt. Should you choose to set aside your duties as a daughter, you might as well go, but you will go in shame. You deserve neither a family nor a family name."

This made sense to me, as I am a person of Chinese descent, and I was reared learning and knowing that filial piety and the fear of embarrassment are issues greatly stressed in life and affects all other facets of the culture. My ego sided with the more illustrious counterpart, and tried to reason with the id. "Y'know, it isn't really that bad here…lots of people have it worse, and you don't see them complaining. Besides, with this money, you're not going to last long. You have enough to buy maybe…what? Meals for five days or so? And where will you stay? Yeah, you have friends, but they live with their parents too, and you'll wear out your welcome. No one will blame you if you do this when you're eighteen."

The petulant id, seeing defeat in great big letters, retreated to a little corner and cried itself to sleep. "It'll get better. Just wait until you're eighteen," the ego said, hoping to soothe the id. Luckily, like all fickle things, the little id recovered after a few hours and found something else to whine about and demand.

This experience means a great deal to me because it shows a mature willingness to reason, and the ability to compromise within oneself. Also, I think it illustrates rather well how valid Freud's ideas about the id, ego, and superego are. The process of compromise is a slow and complicated one. Though I didn't actually experience the conversation between the three counterparts, I did ask myself those questions, and I was forced to answer and react to them in an appropriate manner, all the while weighing considerations that affect the domain of each counterpart. Superegos are very good at keeping tabs on things - so very good, in fact, that in my situation, it went beyond what was right and wrong, but went on to warn against stigmas particular to the Chinese culture. This was a factor in making my decision. And my ego realized that the world is a harsh place, and entered it without support at eleven or twelve years of age would prove very difficult and not very wise. This was also a factor in making my decision. My id wanted out, but I realized that with proper support and maturity, I could very easily get out. So I waited….sort of. But that's another story in itself.

Knowing what I do about Freud's constructions of the id, ego, and superego, I've found myself more carefully analyzing why I make the decisions I make, and which factors get more heavily considered. It's interesting to me that one's decision making process can be examined, and that knowledge can be applied to others when they make their decisions. It helps make the world seem a little more understandable and much less arbitrary.

I really do hate grading my own works, but in this case…my id screams for an "A." My superego, in accordance with cultural training and a preference for modesty, politely asks for a "B" and defers to your judgment. My ego thinks I should get an "A" because I have fulfilled all assignment requirements and have demonstrated a strong understanding of the concepts discussed herein. J