Clinical Psychology

operates according to thereality principle, deferring
the gratification of instinctual urges until a suitable
object and mode are discovered. To do this, it
employs the secondary process—a process that
involves learning, memory, planning, judgment,
and so on. In essence, the role of the ego is to
mediate the demands of the id, the superego, and
the real world in a way that will provide satisfaction
to the organism and at the same time prevent it
from being destroyed by the real world.
The third component of the personality is the
superego. It develops from the ego during childhood,
arising specifically out of the resolution of theOedi-
pus complex(the child’s sexual attraction to the parent
of the opposite sex). It represents the ideals and
values of society as they are conveyed to the child
through the words and deeds of the parents. These
ideals and values are also conveyed via rewards and
punishments. Punished behavior typically becomes
incorporated into the individual’sconscience, whereas
rewarded behavior generally becomes a part of the
ego ideal. Thus, within the superego, the conscience
eventually serves the purpose of punishing indi-
viduals by making them feel guilty or worthless,

whereas the rewards of the ego ideal are experienced

as pride and a sense of worthiness. In general, the

role of the superego is to block unacceptable id

impulses, to pressure the ego to serve the ends of

morality rather than expediency, and to generate

strivings toward perfection.

The Psychosexual Stages. Like many other the-

orists, Freud considered childhood to be of para-

mount importance in shaping the character and

personality of the individual. He believed that

each person goes through a series of developmental

stages. Termedpsychosexual stages, each is marked by

the involvement of a particular erogenous zone of

the body (especially during the first 5 years). The

oral stage, which lasts about a year, is a period in

which the mouth is the chief means of reaching

satisfaction. It is followed by the anal stage,in

which attention becomes centered on defecation

and urination; this stage may span the period from

6 months to 3 years of age. Next is thephallic stage

(from 3 to 7 years of age), during which the sexual

organs become the prime source of gratification.

Following these so-called pregenital stages, the

Superego Ego

Id

Guiding principle: morality

Tasks: develop conscience;

block id impulses

Guiding principle: reality

Tasks: mediate demands of

id and superego; cope

with real world

Guiding principle: pleasure

Tasks: attain gratification of wants,

needs, and impulses

F I G U R E 12-1 Freud’s structure of the mind.

SOURCE: Adapted from Rathus,Psychology: Concepts and Connections,9th ed., Fig 11.1, p. 402. Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth, a part of Cengage Learning.
Reprinted by permission.

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