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Wendy Richardson
SPCC
Running head: Personality theories of Sigmund Fred
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Abstract
Given the luxury to choose from any topic related to the development of humans
from conception to death, I chose to research the personality theories of Sigmund Freud.
Freud’s decision to further research and study the human behavior and personality has
opened many eyes across the globe and has given today’s researchers a layout of how the
Freud developed several theories but the theory of Structural Model of Personality
is going to be the focus. This being one of his five theories to his overall theory of
personality, Freud’s writings on Psychosexual Development laid a foundation for how the
different driving forces develop during the five stages he theorized being, (ID, Ego,
Superego, Conscious, and Unconscious) all play an important role in how humans
Sigmund Freud took a break from all his scientific work and broke his entire
theory down into terms so the simplest of man could understand. Starting with the first
stage of Freud’s theory; the “ID,” he gave an example in the terms of a new born child.
Freud believed the human ID was based solely upon ones pleasure principle. Putting this
into perspective for a new born, the baby doesn’t care for what their parents wishes are,
they just want what they want or what feels good/satisfies one fro the moment. For
example, if the new born is hungry, the ID wants food and causes the baby to cry. There
Running head: Personality theories of Sigmund Fred
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are three components or base facts attached with the ID. 1) The ID doesn’t care about
reality. 2) The ID doesn’t care about the needs of anyone else. 3) The ID only cares
about its own satisfaction. When the ID wants something, nothing else is important.
As the second stage evolves, Freud named it the “Ego.” Within the next three
years, as the child interacts in the world, the second part of his/her personality begins to
develop. Like in the first stage, the second stage of personality has a principle, the reality
principle. The ego understands other people have desires and needs and impulsion or
selfishness can only hurt oneself in the long run. It’s the ego’s job to meet the needs of
As stage three came about, Freud decided to name it the “Superego.” By age five,
or the end of the Phalic stage of development, the superego develops ( " F r e u d ' s structural
and," 1999). The superego is the moral part of humans and develops due to the moral
and the ethical restraints placed on humans by ones caregivers. Many theorists equate the
superego with the conscience as it dictates ones belief of right and wrong. According to
Freud, once one reaches a place in life, his/her ego becomes strong enough to the point
where everything balances out. The ego becomes strong enough to satisfy the ID without
upsetting the superego, while still taking into consideration the reality of every situation.
As the fourth driving force evolves, Freud brings about the “Unconscious.” Freud
believed the majority of what humans experience in life, including: underlying emotions,
beliefs, feelings, and impulses are all not available to one at a conscious level ( " F r e u d ' s
structural and," 1999). He also believed that most of what drives us is buried in our
unconscious. If one is familiar with the field of psychology, the remembrance of where
the Oedipus and Electra complex are located in the unconscious, out of ones awareness,
Running head: Personality theories of Sigmund Fred
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due to the extreme anxiety both cause. While lying in the unconscious, according to
In the fifth and final driving force, the “Conscious” is the most simple to
understand. Freud believed everything one was aware of, as a human, is stored in the
conscious. The conscious makes up a small part of which humans are. At any given
time, humans are only aware of a rather small portion of what makes up his/her
inaccessible.
References
http://www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/psychoanalysis/freud.html
http://allpsych.com/psychology101/ego.html