Unpacking Personality: The superego

 

My two previous posts sought to analyse two crucial components of Freud’s model of personality; the id and the ego. In retrospect, the id represents our most primal urges and drives while the ego is a reasoning component for the id’s intended actions. The third and final constituent of personality in Freudian psychoanalysis is the superego. The moral compass. The superego is said to be the portion of our personality that is shaped by the values and standards instilled by parents, family and the society. This is brought about by an increasing interaction with the world, creating a framework of understanding and dissemination of what is regarded  as right and wrong. From this foundation arises some morality in decision making, acknowledging that there are certain expectations in behaviour and general mannerisms which are accepted by society.

 We may have different comprehensions of what the conscience is. A mechanism rooted in our psyche that makes us feel guilty when we’ve done something wrong. The conscience evaluates our behaviour and thoughts against moral and ethical standards. It is responsible for generating feelings of guilt, shame and remorse when we violate these internalized standards. Essentially, the conscience manifests as an internal set of rules and guidelines that we have absorbed from our parents, caregivers and society. It exists within the sphere of superego and helps us make decisions in a moral and ethical manner.

The superego acts in accordance with the perfection principle. This principle refers to the superego’s drive to enforce an ideal version of behaviour, thoroughly attempting to make the individual act in the most moral and perfectly ethical way. These standards of the perfection principle are often unattainable as they are highly idealistic and are derived from parental expectations, cultural norms and societal values that were engraved during childhood. Consequent to this state of moral judgement and discernment, the superego interacts with the id and ego in a dynamic and often conflicting relationship. There is a continuous struggle between the id and the superego, as the superego tries to prevent the id from acting on it’s impulses, mostly the sexual and aggressive ones. Therefore the ego’s reality principle balances our behaviour as discussed in the previous post.

Summarily, understanding the superego is essential as it helps us recognize the sources of our moral and ethical beliefs, providing insight into why we may feel guilt or pride. This awareness can also illuminate some inner conflicts that we stumble upon. By comprehending all three components of the personality as proposed by Sigmund Freud, a better understanding and navigation of personal behaviour and motivations can be acquired, leading to a more balanced and fulfilling life.