Question

Psychoanalysis is a personality theory with application to the clinical setting. What are the main areas of the personality that are described by Freud, how do they function and interact and where do they come from? According to Freud, are defense mechanisms a good thing to use?

Answer 1

According to Freud, personality is the result of the interaction between three intra-psychic structures, the id, ego, and superego. Every individual faces a constant struggle to balance the conflicts that arise from the different needs of these structures. The balance between the forces ultimately determines an individual's behavior and responses to situations.

The id, embedded in the unconscious mind, is used by the 'pleasure principle'. It is concerned with the fulfillment of primitive and instinctual drives, that are mainly sexual or aggressive in nature. On the other hand, the superego, only partially conscious, serves as the conscience or moral branch of functioning. It is an amalgamation of parental and social rules, regulations, and norms. Finally, the ego, mainly operating in the conscious and preconscious levels is what is referred to as the "self" and is ruled by the 'reality principle'. It constantly seeks to achieve a balance between the forces of the id and superego, to arrive at rational and pragmatic decisions and behavior.

Freud held the notion that defense mechanisms function to protect the ego from overwhelming anxiety, and are thereby adaptive and beneficial to the self. However, excessive and unhealthy use of defense mechanisms is detrimental to individuals as defense mechanisms involve distortion of reality.