Chapter 2    Freud: Psychoanalysis33
fei75766_ch02_019-071.indd 33  02/19/20 08:59 AMAnewborn infant isthepersonification ofanidunencumbered byrestrictions 
ofegoandsuperego. Theinfant seeks gratification ofneeds without regard forwhat 
ispossible (that is,demands oftheego)orwhat isproper (that is,restraints ofthe
superego). Instead, itsucks when thenipple iseither present orabsent andgains plea-
sureineither situation. Although theinfant receives life-sustaining foodonlybysuck-
inganurturing nipple, itcontinues tosuckbecause itsidisnotincontact withreality. 
Theinfant failstorealize thatthumb-sucking behavior cannot sustain life.Because 
theidhasnodirect contact withreality, itisnotaltered bythepassage oftimeorby
theexperiences oftheperson. Childhood wishimpulses remain unchanged intheid
fordecades (Freud, 1933/1964).
Besides being unrealistic andpleasure seeking, theidisillogical andcansimul -
taneously entertain incompatible ideas. Forexample, awoman mayshow conscious 
loveforhermother while unconsciously wishing todestroy her.These opposing 
desires arepossible because theidhasnomorality; thatis,itcannot make value 
judgments ordistinguish between good andevil.However, theidisnotimmoral, 
merely amoral. Alloftheid’senergy isspent foronepurpose—to seekpleasure with-
outregard forwhat isproper orjust(Freud, 1923/1961a, 1933/1964).
Inreview, theidisprimitive, chaotic, inaccessible toconsciousness, unchange -
able,amoral, illogical, unorganized, andfilled withenergy received from basic drives 
anddischarged forthesatisfaction ofthepleasure principle.
Astheregion thathouses basic drives (primary motivates), theidoperates 
through theprimary process. Because itblindly seeks tosatisfy thepleasure prin-
ciple, itssurvival isdependent onthedevelopment ofasecondary process tobring 
itintocontact withtheexternal world. Thissecondary process functions through 
theego.
The Ego
Theego,orI,istheonlyregion ofthemind incontact withreality. Itgrows outof
theidduring infancy andbecomes aperson’s solesource ofcommunication with
theexternal world. Itisgoverned bythereality principle, which ittriestosubstitute 
forthepleasure principle oftheid.Asthesoleregion ofthemind incontact with
theexternal world, theegobecomes thedecision-making orexecutive branch of
personality. However, because itispartly conscious, partly preconscious, andpartly 
unconscious, theegocanmake decisions oneach ofthese three levels. Forinstance, 
awoman’s egomayconsciously motivate hertochoose excessively neat, well-
tailored clothes because shefeelscomfortable when welldressed. Atthesame time, 
shemaybeonlydimly (i.e.,preconsciously )aware ofprevious experiences ofbeing 
rewarded forchoosing niceclothes. Inaddition, shemaybeunconsciously moti-
vated tobeexcessively neatandorderly duetoearly childhood experiences oftoilet 
training. Thus, herdecision towear neatclothes cantakeplace inallthree levels of
mental life.
When performing itscognitive andintellectual functions, theegomust take
intoconsideration theincompatible butequally unrealistic demands oftheidand
thesuperego. Inaddition tothese twotyrants, theegomust serve athird master—
theexternal world. Thus, theegoconstantly triestoreconcile theblind, irrational 
claims oftheidandthesuperego withtherealistic demands oftheexternal world. Final PDF to printer