Freud's Id, Ego, and Superego

1. Freud & Motivation

2. Sigmund Freud
• Perhaps the most influential of all psychologists
• Also controversial: some theories are still popular today, others
are considered outlandish
• Underlying his work is the idea that our unconscious minds
influence our behavior (and we are not aware of this influence).

3. Freud’s View of Motivation
Freud believed that human behavior is
motivated by the id, ego, and superego.
Id = Instincts:
Natural drives and behaviors
that are found in all animals. For
example, animals instinctively
seek things that bring them
pleasure (food, water, freedom,
sex) and fear things that bring
them pain.

4. The “Id”
The instinctual part of the mind that responds immediately
to wants and desires. It operates on the pleasure principle,
and does not follow logic or reason.The id is chaotic and
animal-like, simply seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.
I’M GOING TO STEAL
MONEY FROM MY FRIEND!
(BECAUSE I WANT MONEY NOW!)

5. The Pleasure Principle
The need to seek immediate gratification of all needs, wants,
and urges. In other words, the pleasure principle strives to
fulfill our most basic and primitive urges, including hunger,
thirst, anger, and sex. This behavior is animalistic (because
animals do the same things, and because these things are
done without much thought).
I want to
punch
somebody!
I want food
right now!

6. The “Ego”
The ego is the decision-making part of the mind. It uses
reason and logic, and tries to get the unrealistic id to
cooperate in a society that has rules and boundaries.
Like the id, the ego seeks pleasure and avoids pain, but
unlike the id, the ego uses the reality principle to find a
more realistic strategy to obtain pleasure.
I can’t just walk into her house and
take her money. I have to find a
more realistic way to get it. I’m
going to ask her if I can borrow
money for a “medical emergency”
- and never pay her back!
!

7. The Reality Principle
The the reality principle strives to satisfy the id's desires in
realistic and socially appropriate ways.The reality principle
logically weighs the costs and benefits of an action before
deciding to act upon or abandon an impulse.
I’m hungry, but I
can’t grab the
food off of
someone else’s
plate: they will
yell at me. I
should ask
someone to
give me food
instead…
I have the urge
to cut people
up into tiny
pieces, but, I’ll
go to jail. I
should become
a surgeon
instead of being
a serial killer…

8. The “Superego”
The superego is the “conscience” of a person: it is the voice
that incorporates the values and morals which are learned
from one's parents and society. It tries to persuade the id
and ego to turn to moral goals rather than seeking pleasure.
The superego makes you feel guilt when you fall short of
the good person you want to be.
Stealing money is wrong. It is
harmful to other people. Maybe I
shouldn’t steal…maybe I should
work harder in order to make
more money at work.

9. Id, Ego, & Superego
Id
The instinctual part of the mind that responds
immediately to wants and desires.The id is chaotic
and animal-like, seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.
Ego
The ego is the decision-making part of the mind. It
also seeks pleasure, but uses reason and logic to do
so. It tries to get the unrealistic id to cooperate in a
society bound by laws and social norms.
Superego
The voice that incorporates the values and morals
which are learned from one's parents and society. It
tries to persuade the id and ego to turn to moral
goals rather than seeking pleasure.

10. Childhood Experiences
Freud believed that when
children are born, their
minds are entirely “id.” As
they try and fail things,
learning what is acceptable in
society, they develop an
“ego.” The “superego” is the
last to develop, as children
learn the values of their
parents and gain a moral
understanding of the world.

11. The “Unconscious Mind”
Freud compared the mind to
an iceberg. He believed the
“unconscious mind” was that
part of our mind that we
don’t actively think about. In
fact, some of the information
in our unconscious mind is
so disturbing that the mind
automatically buries it away
(suppresses it) so we do not
have to remember it and
face it.
Conscious Mind: Active Thoughts
Unconscious Mind: The things buried
in our minds that we don’t think about.

12. Id, Ego, Superego
According to Freud, the
id, ego, and superego are
the three parts of the
human mind.
He believed that the id is
fully unconscious.The Ego
and Superego are partially
conscious.
Ego
Id
Super-
ego
Conscious Mind
Unconscious Mind
The area directly below the surface of the
water is called the “preconscious mind,”
because although it is currently unconscious,
it can easily be brought to our awareness.

13. Psychoanalysis
One of Freud’s biggest
contributions to the field
of Psychology was
psychoanalysis - the
“talking cure”. Freud
believed that our
emotional and
behavioural problems
are due to repressed
desires and negative life
experiences that we
keep buried in our
unconscious minds.
Ego
Id
Super-
ego
Conscious Mind
Unconscious Mind
Traumatic life experiences (especially
from childhood)
Socially unacceptable desires (especially
sexual desires and the desire to harm
others)
Childish desires (such as the desire for
attention)

14. In our unconscious
minds we hide evil
thoughts and negative
experiences. Even
though we don’t
actively think about
these everyday, they
impact our behaviour
and emotional state.

15. But if we talk to a
therapist, the act of
talking itself can
provide clues about
what’s hidden in our
unconscious. It might
even force us to talk
about things we don’t
normally think about.
Becoming more aware
of our hidden desires
and difficult life
experiences is like
medicine: it helps us
grow.

16. Assignment
Create an illustration in which id, ego, and superego are arguing
about how to behave. See specific instructions on the class website.
Let’s kill that guy
who always takes
our parking spot!
That might ruin our life. Let’s
kill small animals instead. No
one will care about that.
How about we not
kill anything!
Id
Ego
Superego

17. Assignment
Create an illustration in which id, ego, and superego are arguing
about how to behave. See specific instructions on the class website.
I want money!
power! fame!
Raaahhhhrrrr! I can
do whatever I want!
I want those things too, but I
need to avoid saying stupid
things that offend people. I
need to make people think I
am a good person.
I don’t really believe that
money, power, and fame
are things leaders should
care about. Leaders
should care about
citizens…
Id Ego Superego