Psychological

View of Self
PSYCHOANALYTICAL
THEORY OF SELF
DEVELOPMENT
Sigmund Freud
Tripartite
Freud’s single most
enduring and important
idea was that the human
psyche (personality) has
more than one aspect.

Freud’s personality theory (1923) saw the psyche structured

into three parts (tripartite), the id, ego, and superego, all
developing at different stages in our lives.

These are systems, not parts of the brain, or in any way

physical.
.
ID (Internal Desires)
Part of the unconscious
contains all the urges and impulses,
including what is called the libido, a
kind of generalized sexual energy that
is used for everything from survival
instincts to appreciation of art.
ID (Internal Desires)
Pleasure Principle, (Freud 1920)

the idea that every wishful

impulse should be satisfied
immediately, regardless of
the consequences.
ID (Internal Desires)
Always with us
In childhood, before we are
taught self-control, id is the
only part that is present
ID (Internal Desires)
Natural Sexual Drive
The whole human species enjoy jokes
that involve sexuality. According to
Freud, we have a natural sexual drive
that is a part of our animal side and an
active part of the id. We are always
trying to repress it to show that we are
acculturated.
Ego
Freud, 1923
“that part of the id which has
been modified by the direct
influence of the external
world.”
Ego
Mediator

between the
unrealistic id and the
external real world
Ego
• It is the decision-making
component of
personality.
• Ideally, the ego works by
reason, whereas the id is
chaotic and
unreasonable.
Ego
• Freud made the analogy of
the id being a horse while
the ego is the rider.
• The ego is “like a man on
horseback, who has to hold
in check the superiour
strength of the horse.”
Superego
• The superego incorporates the
values and morals of society
which are learned from one’s
parents and others.
• It develops around the age of
3 – 5 years during the phallic
stage of psychosexual
development.
Superego
• The superego is a part
of the unconscious that
is the voice of
conscience and the
source of self-criticism.
Superego
• It also has the function of
persuading the ego to turn
to moralistic goals rather
than simply realistic ones
and to strive for
perfection.
• Being kind vs. being right
Superego
The superego consists of two systems:
• The conscience is our “inner
voice” that tells us when we have
done something wrong.
• The ideal self (or ego-ideal) is an
imaginary picture of how you ought
to be, and represents career
aspirations, how to treat other
people, and how to behave as a
member of society.
Superego
• The ideal self and
conscience are largely
determined
in childhood from
parental values and how
you were brought up.
PSYCHOSEXUAL
THEORY OF SELF
DEVELOPMENT
Sigmund Freud
Psychosexual Theory
• Sigmund Freud proposed
that personality development
in childhood takes place
during five psychosexual
stages, which are the oral,
anal, phallic, latency, and
genital stages.
• These are called psychosexual
stages because each stage
represents the fixation of libido
(roughly translated as sexual
drives or instincts) on a
different area of the body.
Psychosexual Theory

• As a person grows physically • Freud stressed that the

certain areas of their body first five years of life are
become important as sources
crucial to the formation
of potential frustration
(erogenous zones), pleasure of adult personality.
or both.
Psychosexual Theory

• The ego and superego develop in

• The id must be controlled order to exercise this control and direct
in order to satisfy social the need for gratification into socially
acceptable channels.
demands; this sets up a
• Gratification centers in different
conflict between frustrated areas of the body at different stages of

wishes and social norms. growth, making the conflict at each

stage psychosexual.
21
PSYCHOSOCIAL
STAGES OF
DEVELOPMENT
Erik Erikson
8 Stages of Psychosocial
Development
• Erikson maintained that
personality develops in a
predetermined order through
eight stages of psychosocial
development, from infancy to
adulthood.
• During each stage, the person
experiences a psychosocial
crisis which could have a
positive or negative outcome
for personality development.
8 Stages of Psychosocial
Development
• these crises are of a
psychosocial nature because
they involve psychological
needs of the individual (i.e.,
psycho) conflicting with the
needs of society (i.e., social).
• successful completion of
each stage results in a
healthy personality and the
acquisition of basic virtues
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References
Erikson, E. H. (1959). Psychological issues. New York, NY: International
University Press
Fisher, S. & Greenberg, R. P. (1996). Freud scientifically reappraised:
Testing the theories and therapy. New York: Wiley.
Freud, S. (1920). Beyond the pleasure principle. SE, 18: 1-64.
Freud, S. (1923). The ego and the id. SE, 19: 1-66.
Freud, S. (1905). Three essays on the theory of sexuality. Standard Edition
7: 123- 246.
Gimbel, S. (8 October 2020) Sigmund Freud’s Tripartite Theory of Mind,
Gettysburg College
Thank you for listening!
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