The structure of personality

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Created by
Billy Dudden

Cards (3)

  • The Id
    The Id operates on the pleasure principle. It is a mass of unconscious drives and instincts. Only the Id is present at birth and throughout life the Id is entirely selfish and demands instant gratification of its needs.
  • The Ego

    The Ego works on the reality principle and is the mediator between the other two parts of the personality. It develops at around the age of 2 and its role is to reduce the conflict between the demands of the Id and the Superego. It manages this through defence mechanisms.
  • The Superego

    The Superego is formed at the end of the phallic stage, around the age of 5. It is our internalised sense of right or wrong. Based on the morality principle it represents the moral standards of the child's same-gender parent and punishes the Ego for wrongdoing (through guilt).