There are wars lasting for decades within us. We do not always detect them. The surrounding world distracts us from the conflict within ourselves. Yet, one battle remains at the forefront of our consciousness. It is the battle for self and expression between the Id, Ego, and Superego. They care not for cooperation. Instead, they seek to control the very mind of the body you inhabit.
Introduction
Greetings everyone. The next installment in our Emotional Intelligence series involves discussing the Id, Ego, and Superego. I thought it would be an excellent topic to discuss because I feel it plays a significant role in our decisions. The conflict between these three psyches could significantly affect us if we are unaware of their impact. I believe that having a high Emotional Intelligence (EQ) would allow us to focus more intently on accomplishing our goals.
The Id
The id represents our needs. According to Sigmund Freud, the id consists of wholely unconscious desires drive us to seek pleasure. We achieve pleasure, in the sense of the psyche, by satiating the needs of the id. If we're thirsty, for instance, we drink water. Resolution of this thirst is a form of pleasure according to Freud. Failing to address the id causes stress and anxiety within the individual experiencing it.
My sons were born within about a year of each other. Each time, as expected, they would cry for all sorts of reasons. In the beginning, they cried every time they were hungry-no matter the time of the day. My children's psyche consisted of the id alone. A need to survive without compromise. A raw need for satiation.
The id never goes away. It addresses the unconscious need for something and alerts us to its presence in many subtle ways. Failing to address or recognize that need may lead to unforeseen problems in our adulthood.
Reading about the id reminds me of stories about the fallen angels. Where they were once heralds of an almighty, keeping a kingdom safe, were now repressed and in chains. We're taught to repress and restrain the id in various social rituals and laws.
The Ego
The Ego drives reality. Our mind builds the ego upon the structure of the id. As my sons grow and learn to interact with the environment, they begin to express some minuscule level of control of the id. Where once they would cry non-stop when hungry, they now understand it would be better to wait 15 minutes before the meal is prepared. Instead of eating, they can focus on their building or puzzles while I set up the table. They're still hungry but now have better control over the need within them.
The ego acts to drive the needs of our unconscious minds in an appropriate manner. On an extreme note, failure of the ego or superego to control the id may lead to heartbreaking situations. One example of this is a grown man killing his 5-year old son when he was caught eating some of his birthday cake.
The ego appears to me to be some form of middle management that can become battered at times. It constantly acts to mediate the needs of the id and the controls of the superego. The result of the mediation is realistic behaviors acceptable to society-at least in most circumstances.
The Super Ego
The Superego represents the laws and morality we've learned. It is our understanding of what society accepts and is our guide to make sure we behave correctly. In the case of the father killing his 5-year old, a functioning superego would restrain the father because punching a child in the head and stomach is wrong.
Where the id causes stress and anxiety should its need be unfulfilled, the superego causes guilt. We may feel bad sometimes, for example, when we don't follow rules of a sort. The guilt we feel would be a result of the superego.
The Triumvirate
The id, ego, and superego are aspects of the psyche that affect each individual throughout their lives. We constantly act in support of one psyche or another pursuing the unconscious and balanced goal of pleasure. The pleasure we get could be a sense of satisfaction that we've completed a task or arrived on time for an appointment. It could also be as simple as eating food when we're hungry. Hopefully, the choices we make do not fall upon an extreme.
The Cosmos
When I write cosmos, I don't just mean the stars. I refer to anything and everything that could have an impact on the decisions made by your psyche.
Have you recently decided against purchasing a product because of cost? Did your reasoning change after seeing a commercial or speaking to someone? You have been affected by the cosmos.
Many of us may forget from time to time that there are forces external to us that drive us towards an engineered goal. As I've written in Emotional Intelligence it's important to be aware of your state of being before making some decisions. Question the emotions you feel and ask yourselves if what you're doing is right for yourself and those you care about.
In Closing
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Thank you for reading and following on throughout my journey. Don't forget to upvote and follow scholaris for future articles!
How do you feel about the concepts of the id, ego, superego? Is there any sense to them or just some psychological nonsense?
How many of you have changed your decision on an item after questioning yourself? Was that a wise decision for you?
Articles Coming Up Next
- EI - Power of the Sheeple
- The Cutting
- Information Wars