What is the ego? We know the term ‘ego’ in extended use refers to a person’s sense of self (often inflated or exaggerated, as in the term ‘egotism’ or ‘egotistical’). But in Freudian psychoanalysis, developed by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), the term ‘ego’ has a more specific meaning.
Freud defined the ego as ‘that part of the id which has been modified by the direct influence of the external world’. We outline what the ‘id’ is here, but to understand what the ego is, it’s necessary to know a little about Freud’s definition of the id. Freud believed that all babies are born with their minds composed purely of the id: that primal, instinctive part of us which wants us to achieve pleasure at any cost. Instant gratification is the name of the game for the id. When a baby cries, it’s usually because it’s hungry and wants feeding, or because it’s uncomfortable because its nappy needs changing. These basic needs and wants are what drive the newborn.
But as we grow up and start to develop, we come to realise that we can’t always get what we want, and that instant gratification might not be good for us. I may want to eat that whole fresh cream profiterole trifle (that serves 4) all by myself in one sitting, but should I? My id thinks so. But part of me also knows that I’m likely to feel sick afterwards, and that regularly indulging in such desires will lead to my putting on weight and developing health problems. The part of my brain that raises these concerns is the ego, which develops as we start to mature. The ego is the foil for the id, designed to keep the id’s wilder impulses in check.
Continue reading
Labels:
ego, personality, Freud, ID,
No comments:
Post a Comment