Is Freud Correct?
Essay Preview: Is Freud Correct?
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What is human nature? This question continues to baffle some of the greatest thinkers of all time. Countless theories of the true nature of human beings have been created. Sigmund Freud made many significant contributions to the understanding of human thought. Freud developed an extremely complex view of the various activities of the human brain. Through his “structural theory,” Freud sorted human psychological processes into three major categories; the Id, the Ego, and the Super-Ego. These diverse mental processes expose Freuds pessimistic view of human nature. Freud describes human beings to be inherently selfish and impulsive, with only established societal standards to keep these unfortunate qualities in check. Of the three categories in Freuds “structural theory” I find the Id to be the most telling of his views on human nature. The Ego and the Super-Ego show the effects that society has on human nature. The relationships between the Id, Ego and Super-Ego illustrate how human beings have come to handle their own natural instincts.
Freud described the three distinct mental processes as being dependent upon one another. According to Freud, the Id is driven solely by impulses. The impulses act as natural demands that the Id seeks to satisfy. The Id is not in touch with reality and completely disregards the happiness and needs of others; its exclusive interest is its own satisfaction. The Id, according to Freud, is the only of the three structures that is present at birth. In essence, Freud is suggesting that it is the only one that is entirely natural and not the result of social influence. In the first few years of life human beings have no concept of how their actions affect their surrounding environment; their actions may or may not conflict with the standards of society. The Id is governed by the “pleasure principle.” As a human being grows up, his or her experiences and education lead to the development of the Ego. While the Id only concerns itself with impulsive desires, the Ego takes reality into account. The Ego is what balances the activities of the Id and the Super-Ego. The Ego is the reality check for human beings. The Ego helps humans deal with their surrounding environments. The Ego does not entirely disregard the desires of the Id; it just tries to satisfy a persons selfish interests in the most realistic manner possible. The Ego is essential to human behavior. The Ego considers the lessons and principles learned through childhood experiences and education and it normally decides to behave in a manner that avoids negative consequences. The Ego seeks to satisfy the impulses of the Id, but it will hold off until it finds a socially acceptable method that will not entail negative repercussions. Essentially, the Ego intercedes between the impetuous Id and the expectations of the outside world. The Super-Ego is a human beings learned morality. The Super-Ego is developed as new rules and principles are brought to light throughout the lifetime of human beings. The Super-Ego is the moral influence that questions the desires