Over the years, Sigmund Freud’s (1856-1939) work has been reflected on a countless amount of times, and still very much used to try to understand the human mind and all of its complexities. Freud’s work has been used in various ways, shapes and forms, from trying to understand the psychology of crime, to trying to understanding sexual deviance.
In order to understand the role the ego plays in human problems, Freud’s work has to be turned to yet again, as his division of mind theory addresses the way innate desires and repressed emotions shape human behaviour’, and is based on three separate, yet connected provinces: the id, the super-ego, and the ego. According to Freudian thinking, violent, aggressive or sexually deviant acts could be seen as expressions of buried internal conflicts that are the result of traumas or deprivations experienced during childhood’. If this is the case, then each province would need to be considered in turn in order to see what impact they have not only on certain deviant behaviour, but behaviour in general.
The id is thought to represents the primitive, instinctive, animalistic portion of the unconscious mind, and it is here that the primeval human desires reside, with the ultimate aim being to gratify instincts at all costs.
Conversely, the super-ego is considered to be the repository of moral values’ and the seat of guilt within the individual. Perhaps the best way to perceive the super-ego is as a sort of internal nagging parent’ or moral or ethical guardian. Furthermore, the super-ego develops as a result of a series of early social experiences, with its source being self-criticism based on the production of guilt.
Lastly, the ego relates to the conscious mind, and acts as a sort of mediating device’ between the id and the super ego. Because of the conscious recognition within the individual that every act has a consequence’, Freud claimed that the ego was driven by the reality principle’.
When considering what role the ego plays in human problems, it may be seen that the ego is responsible for doubt, uncertainty and hesitance in an individual’s life. On the other hand however, the ego may also be seen in more of a positive light, as the ego can also be seen as the sound of reason. This can be seen in both respects as not only is the ego continuingly mediating between the other two opposing provinces (hence delay in potential decisions), it is also assisting in the prevention of potential unethical/ immoral behaviour. For example, if the id is telling you to gratify your sexual desires at any cost, the ego is weighing up all the potential consequences that may result in you doing so. Alternatively, if an individual is say, considering buying a new house, and the id’s needs are met (e.g. the area is better, it’s closer to school for the kids, or its closer to family), however the house is 200,000 more expensive, the id may play an irrational part, and may not care less about the financial pressure this may place on an individual. Not only will the ego put all relevant information into perspective, it also ways up the pros and cons of moving, incorporating all factors, not just the positive ones. Although this provides to be good as a security measure, before the ego has successfully mediated between conflicting issues, the house could have easily been sold, or even taken off the market.
As it can be seen, although the ego has its benefits, delay, doubt, and hesitance that the ego brings to the table could be potentially detrimental to an individual’s decision making process.
When considering Freud’s notion that certain behaviour may surface in adulthood, due to buried internal conflicts, which are the result of traumas or deprivations experienced during childhood’, this leaves the question of what if such traumas or deprivations effect the development of the ego, and as a result would it be unable to mediate between two potential opposing decisions’? Furthermore, if an individual has no sense of morality, or considers that every act has a consequence’, then how can they mediate between what is the right’ or wrong’ thing to do? Well the answer is simple; delay, doubt, or hesitance time may be reduced, however, there will be a less developed internal mediating system, which as a result could be detrimental to certain decisions.
When considering the ego’s part played in human problems, it appears that although it may create certain dilemmas (e.g. cannot make a prompt decision), on the whole without it, we would have a lot more issues to deal with, as there would be no internal mediating device, or conscious recognition when faced with a dilemma, regardless of how serious.
