Do you know what it means superego Also, get to know some characteristics of the other personality systems and see how they are related. So, read on!

What is superego?

Superego or superego is a term coined by the Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (1856 - 1939).

The superego is one of the personality systems present in our mind. It originates in the person the conscience and the feelings of shame and guilt, as well as storing the moral and cultural demands of our society.

Another characteristic of the superego in psychoanalysis is that it contains the internalized voice of our parents, that is, the prohibitions, limits, and authority imposed by them. It is a structure that is always telling us what to do based on moral precepts and ideals.

Theory on the Structure of the Psychic Apparatus

In 1900, Freud published his book The Interpretation of Dreams, in which he presented for the first time his Theory on the Structure of the Psychic Apparatus, in which he describes three systems: the unconscious, the preconscious, and the conscious.

In the unconscious there are several elements that are not present in the current space of consciousness. This occurs because these elements have been repressed or censored, either voluntarily or involuntarily.

The preconscious refers to elements that are easily accessible by the consciousness, yet are not present in the current moment of consciousness. Finally, the conscious is the current moment, the now, which receives external and internal information.

Second Theory on the Structure of the Psychic Apparatus

Between 1920 and 1923, Freud presents the Second Theory on the Structure of the Psychic Apparatus, in which we have the id, the ego, and the superego. The superego, together with the id and ego, form the personality systems.

The id is immediate, because it is ruled by the pleasure principle. It stores the psychic energy in which we find the life drive (Eros) and the death drive (Tannatos). The life drive leads our behavior, while the death drive is self-destructive.

The ego is responsible for maintaining a balance between the demands of the id and the norms of the superego. It is governed by the principle of reality and therefore seeks healthy ways to help the id to satisfy its desires, but not leaving aside the ideals of the superego.

Relationship between the Theories on the Structure of the Psychic Apparatus

As seen before, in the first Theory of the Structure of the Psychic Apparatus there are the conscious, the preconscious, and the unconscious. These elements have a dynamic relationship with the id, the ego, and the superego or superego of the second theory.

The concepts of the first theory can be seen as an iceberg. The unconscious is totally submerged, the preconscious is under the water, near the surface, and the conscious is totally in sight, exposed.

The ego and the superego, on the other hand, have elements of the conscious, the preconscious, and the unconscious, forming a dynamic relationship that alternates according to the situations experienced.

The stages of psychosexual development

According to another theory of Freud, the physical and mental maturation of a person follows phases of psychosexual development. These phases are divided into five stages:

• oral;
• anal;
• phallic;
• latency;
• and, finally, genital.

During childhood, the sexual function is related to survival. Over the years, each phase falls into a zone of eroticization, such as the mouth, anus, and sexual organs. In each of these there is a search to satiate a desire, such as feeding and evacuation.

Only in the genital phase, that is, after puberty, these desires are not related to a physiological need exclusive to the person, but shared with another in order to reproduce and obtain pleasure.

I want information to enroll in the Psychoanalysis Course .

Oedipus complex and the relationship with the superego in Freud

In the phallic phase of psychosexual development, between the ages of 3 and 5, the event known as the Oedipus complex occurs. This event provides the basis for the person's personality.

During the Oedipus complex, the boy desires the mother and the girl desires the father, so the boy sees the father as a rival and the girl sees the mother as a rival. There will not be a solution to this obstacle, so these feelings go into the unconscious.

This is one of the first functions of the superego: to repress the Oedipus complex. It orders the person that he cannot behave in that way. Therefore, this is when the superego originates.

After the Oedipus complex: latency

After the Oedipus complex event, there is the next phase of psychosexual development called latency, which occurs from the ages of 5 to 12, i.e., it ends with the onset of puberty.

In this phase, the ego forms the notions of morality and the feeling of shame and repulsion. Moreover, it is in this phase that sexual desires unfulfilled during the phallic phase are repressed by the superego.

In this phase, the child also begins to understand that not fulfilling some personal desires is important in order to be accepted by the group. This is the time when he begins to socialize and to value the act of sharing his belongings with others.

Other characteristics of the superego

The superego acts independently of the other personality systems, because it is above the pressures of the id and ego for satisfaction. This puts it in a position of self-observation, because the superego is in constant vigilance regarding the desires and acts of the id and ego.

A person's superego mirrors that of the person who created it, so it is composed of judgments, values, and traditions passed down through family generations, as well as being grounded in social and cultural norms that are all around the person.

The superego or superego also embraces our ideals, generating feelings of pride and self-love. However, the superego can act to bring up feelings of guilt if we act against our morals and ideals.

Final considerations

Knowing the characteristics of the superego or superego is important to develop our self-knowledge. To be in balance, it is necessary to know how to control the wills of the id, deal with the ego, and do self-observation through the superego.

To deepen your knowledge about the superego, as well as other Freudian theories, take our online Psychoanalysis course, so you can learn more about the characteristics of each component of the personality systems and understand more about yourself.

I want information to enroll in the Psychoanalysis Course .