Running head: Personality theories of Sigmund Fred

Personality theories of Sigmund Freud

Wendy Richardson

SPCC
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Abstract

Given the luxury to choose from any topic related to the development of humans

from conception to death, I chose to research the personality theories of Sigmund Freud.

Freud’s decision to further research and study the human behavior and personality has

opened many eyes across the globe and has given today’s researchers a layout of how the

human mind operates.

Freud developed several theories but the theory of Structural Model of Personality

is going to be the focus. This being one of his five theories to his overall theory of

personality, Freud’s writings on Psychosexual Development laid a foundation for how the

human personality developed, his theory, nevertheless is rather complex. He believed

different driving forces develop during the five stages he theorized being, (ID, Ego,

Superego, Conscious, and Unconscious) all play an important role in how humans

interact in the world ( " F r e u d ' s structural and," 1999).

Sigmund Freud took a break from all his scientific work and broke his entire

theory down into terms so the simplest of man could understand. Starting with the first

stage of Freud’s theory; the “ID,” he gave an example in the terms of a new born child.

Freud believed the human ID was based solely upon ones pleasure principle. Putting this

into perspective for a new born, the baby doesn’t care for what their parents wishes are,

they just want what they want or what feels good/satisfies one fro the moment. For

example, if the new born is hungry, the ID wants food and causes the baby to cry. There
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are three components or base facts attached with the ID. 1) The ID doesn’t care about

reality. 2) The ID doesn’t care about the needs of anyone else. 3) The ID only cares

about its own satisfaction. When the ID wants something, nothing else is important.

As the second stage evolves, Freud named it the “Ego.” Within the next three

years, as the child interacts in the world, the second part of his/her personality begins to

develop. Like in the first stage, the second stage of personality has a principle, the reality

principle. The ego understands other people have desires and needs and impulsion or

selfishness can only hurt oneself in the long run. It’s the ego’s job to meet the needs of

the ID while taking into consideration the reality of the situation.

As stage three came about, Freud decided to name it the “Superego.” By age five,

or the end of the Phalic stage of development, the superego develops ( " F r e u d ' s structural

and," 1999). The superego is the moral part of humans and develops due to the moral

and the ethical restraints placed on humans by ones caregivers. Many theorists equate the

superego with the conscience as it dictates ones belief of right and wrong. According to

Freud, once one reaches a place in life, his/her ego becomes strong enough to the point

where everything balances out. The ego becomes strong enough to satisfy the ID without

upsetting the superego, while still taking into consideration the reality of every situation.

As the fourth driving force evolves, Freud brings about the “Unconscious.” Freud

believed the majority of what humans experience in life, including: underlying emotions,

beliefs, feelings, and impulses are all not available to one at a conscious level ( " F r e u d ' s

structural and," 1999). He also believed that most of what drives us is buried in our

unconscious. If one is familiar with the field of psychology, the remembrance of where

the Oedipus and Electra complex are located in the unconscious, out of ones awareness,
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due to the extreme anxiety both cause. While lying in the unconscious, according to

Freud, both continue to impact ones personality dramatically.

In the fifth and final driving force, the “Conscious” is the most simple to

understand. Freud believed everything one was aware of, as a human, is stored in the

conscious. The conscious makes up a small part of which humans are. At any given

time, humans are only aware of a rather small portion of what makes up his/her

personality; most of which is buried and inaccessible.

Using the visual example and metaphor of a

Iceberg in water, the water is an example of

the ocean and how humans are unsure of

what is there in connection to the

unconscious or nonconscious. The conscious

being above the water is a resemblance of

what humans are aware of. What is buried

below the water’s surface is all a metaphor

for what little humans do know and what is

inaccessible.

("The iceberg metaphor," 2004)

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References

Freud's structural and topographical models of personality . (1999).

Retrieved from http://allpsych.com/psychology101/ego.html

Felluga, Dino. (2011, January 31). "modules on freud: on psychosexual

development." introductory guide to critical theory. . Retrieved from

http://www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/psychoanalysis/freud.html

The iceberg metaphor. (2004). [Web]. Retrieved from

http://allpsych.com/psychology101/ego.html