Freud's Personality Structure
Michael Heidemann
PSY151 Deak
Fall 08
Freud’s Personality Structure Since the beginning of time human beings have asked themselves- who they are, and why they are this way- these central human questions became the roots of Psychology. It is through these questions that we are better able to understand our ‘self’. That is why I find myself vastly intrigued by Freud’s concept of Personality. The magnitude of the topic with its theories and terms, help describe ones persona in an unconscious and conscious mindset. It is through these theories and ideas that we gain insight into ourselves and why we behave the way we do. Freud’s psychoanalytic conception of personality was his belief that, “the mind is like an iceberg, mostly hidden”. The tip of the iceberg represents our conscious mind, the part of our thinking where we are aware. While the other ninety percent of the iceberg below the water represents our unconscious mind showing its power over our conscious mind. Through the understanding of the unconscious and conscious mind we are able to deconstruct how works to keep these impulses in balance with daily life. Freud theorized that personality arises from a conflict between our aggressive, biological impulses and the internalized social restraints against them. He believed personality is the result of our efforts to express these impulses in ways that bring satisfaction without bringing guilt or punishment. The Id, ego, and super-ego are the three parts defined in Sigmund Freud 's structural model of the psyche. The Id operates the “pleasure principle” seeking out our instinctual desire for immediate gratification. According to Freud, “The Id is filled with energy reaching it from the instincts, only a striving to bring about the satisfaction of the instinctual needs subject to the observance of the pleasure principle.” The “ego” operates on the reality principle, seeking to gratify the Id’s impulses in socially acceptable ways
PSY151 Deak
Fall 08
Freud’s Personality Structure Since the beginning of time human beings have asked themselves- who they are, and why they are this way- these central human questions became the roots of Psychology. It is through these questions that we are better able to understand our ‘self’. That is why I find myself vastly intrigued by Freud’s concept of Personality. The magnitude of the topic with its theories and terms, help describe ones persona in an unconscious and conscious mindset. It is through these theories and ideas that we gain insight into ourselves and why we behave the way we do. Freud’s psychoanalytic conception of personality was his belief that, “the mind is like an iceberg, mostly hidden”. The tip of the iceberg represents our conscious mind, the part of our thinking where we are aware. While the other ninety percent of the iceberg below the water represents our unconscious mind showing its power over our conscious mind. Through the understanding of the unconscious and conscious mind we are able to deconstruct how works to keep these impulses in balance with daily life. Freud theorized that personality arises from a conflict between our aggressive, biological impulses and the internalized social restraints against them. He believed personality is the result of our efforts to express these impulses in ways that bring satisfaction without bringing guilt or punishment. The Id, ego, and super-ego are the three parts defined in Sigmund Freud 's structural model of the psyche. The Id operates the “pleasure principle” seeking out our instinctual desire for immediate gratification. According to Freud, “The Id is filled with energy reaching it from the instincts, only a striving to bring about the satisfaction of the instinctual needs subject to the observance of the pleasure principle.” The “ego” operates on the reality principle, seeking to gratify the Id’s impulses in socially acceptable ways
Cited: Deak, Robin. "Intro to Psychology." McHenry County College. 2008. Freud, Sigmund. An Outline of Psychoanalysis. 1940. Myers, David G. Exploring Psychology. New York: Worth, Incorporated, 2004.