Jokes aside, in my mind Freud is one of the world's greatest... greats. His theory on id, ego, and super ego are superb and very much hit the nail on the head as to the way humanity behaves.
The id is the impulsive, consequent disregarding, part of the brain, which acts soley to achieve pleasure and self-preservation . The id is based on instinctive thought processes. When researching the id, i came across this analogy, "If the infant is hungry or uncomfortable, he or she will cry until the demands of the id are met."
The ego and the super ego are two entirely different entities from the id. The ego handles the real world. It helps achieve the desires of the id, but projects them in a way which is viewed as acceptable by society; a sort of justification. The ego decides whether to put desires into practice or refrain from doing so. The super ego goes one step further as it is this that creates our ideals and opinions based on those of other's around us i.e. parents or peers. It works to stamp out all unwanted impulses, and it is in the super ego where the conscience lies.
Surely one must strike a balance between the three so as to achieve a sense of well-being, whilst not being disruptive to the morals of society's super ego. I am sure the argument as to the balance in these behaviours is never-ending. I am of the opinion that "good people" must praise the super ego as it lubricates society and that without it the world would be in social ruins, but then there is also the counter argument of how well an individual is taught, and to whom he has acquired his own morals from.
Understandably, my opinion could very well be wrong, as there may be a genius out there who acts heavily with his id (i.e. by not thinking about his/her actions) and will never be understood due to fabricated morals of the super ego within society.
Is the super ego denying us of who we really are?
yes it is - says freud
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