Sigmund Freud was known as the founder of psychoanalytic theory. He developed this theory based on the development of the physical science of that time.
Freud ‘discovered’ the unconscious which is the basis for all psychodynamic theories. Freud posited that human behavior was built up over time through distinct stages.
According to Freud, three important conceptualized parts of the human personality are the id, ego, and superego: the id—unconscious source of primitive sexual, dependency, and aggressive impulses; the superego—subconsciously interjects societal mores, setting standards to live by; and the ego—represents a sense of self and mediates between realities of the moment and psychic needs and conflicts.
According to Freud, the id is the primitive and instinctual part of the mind that contains sexual and aggressive drives and hidden memories, Based on the pleasure principle, id operates at the unconscious level. His idea of the id explains why people act out in certain ways when it is not in line with the ego or superego. The id is the part of the mind, which holds all of humankind's most basic and primal instincts.
During infancy, the ego develops from the id in individuals. The purpose of the ego is to satisfy the demands of the id in a very safe and socially acceptable way. The ego is responsible for creating a balance between pleasure and pain.
The ego operates both in conscious and unconscious mind. The ego develops to mediate between the unrealistic id and the real external world. It is the decision-making component of personality. Ideally, the ego works by reason, whereas the id is chaotic and unreasonable.
The superego is the last function of the personality to develop and is the embodiment of parental/social ideals established during childhood. The superego is responsible for ensuring moral standards in individuals. It operates on moral principles and motivates them to behave in socially acceptable ways.
Psychoanalytic theory by Sigmund Freud
