obeys the
pleasure principle
i.e. Immediate tension reduction thereby manifestingitself in an impulsive, irrational and narcissistic manner regardless of theconsequences. Freud identified two mechanisms the id employs to rid the personalityof tensiona)
Reflex Actions
-The id responds automatically to sources of irritation, thereby promptly removing tension which the irritant elicits b)
Primary Processes-
The id forms a mental image of an object previously associatedwith satisfaction of a basic need.2)
The Ego
-The ego is the decision making component of the psychic apparatus thatseeks to express and gratify the desires of the id in accordance with the constraintsimposed by the outside world. It must continuously differentiate between things in themind and things in the outer world of reality. It obeys the
Reality Principle
, the aimof which is to preserve the integrity by suspending instinctual gratification until either an appropriate outlet or environmental condition that will satisfy the need is found.This enables the individual to inhibit , redirect, or gradually release the id’s rawenergy within bounds of social restrictions and the individual’s conscience. Through
secondary processes
, the ego is able to establish appropriate courses of action tosatisfy instinctual needs without endangering the safety of the individual and/or others.3)
The Superego
In order for a person to function effectively in society, he must acquire a system of values, norms ,and ethics that are reasonably compatible with that society. These areacquired through the process of “socialization” and in terms of the structural model of psychoanalysis, are developed through the formation of a superego. Freud divided thesuperego into two subsystemsa)
The conscience-
is acquired through the use of punishment by the parents. It isconcerned with things that parents say are “naughty” behaviour and for which thechild is reprimanded. It includes the capacity for punitive self-evaluation ,moral prohibitions,and guilt feelings b)
The Ego Ideal-
is the rewarding aspect of the superego is the ego-ideal. It is derivedfrom whatever the parents approve or value and leads the individual to pursuestandards of excellence which, if achieved, generate a sense of self-esteem and pride.
Instincts
Freud depicted human motivation as based entirely on energy aroused from body’stissue needs. In Freudian theory ,mental representations of these bodily excitationsreflected in the form of wishes are termed
instincts.
Instincts are therefore innate bodily states of excitation that seek expression and tension releaseFreud recognized the existence of two basic groups of them-
life and death
instincts.
Eros
-or life instinct includes all those forces that serve to maintain vital life processesand ensure the propagation of the species
Thanatos
-or death instinct underlies all the manifestations of cruelty ,aggression,suicide, and murder
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