Me, Myself and I.
Id, Ego and Superego. A short explanation and a short implementation.
According to Freud, a complex human behaviour is the reflection of three distinct yet interacting systems, id, ego and superego. These are active agents that form so called psychic apparatus (human personality).
Id works to satisfy the basic needs, desires and urges. It is present from birth and responds directly to needs in order to receive immediate gratification. Baby’s are completely “id-driven” in order to survive. When we grow older, we still try to satisfy the needs while act accordingly to social norms and circumstances- with the help of ego. As Freud put it, the ego “attempts to mediate between the id and reality”. The ego tries to meet the desires of id in such a way that it is acceptable for external real world. The ego is under constant watch of superego. According to Freud, superego consists at first of integrated parental morals about what is right and wrong and later takes on the influence of other significant people like teachers, educators. The superego has a superpower to cause feelings of guilt or pride. If the ego surrenders under demands of id, the superego then punishes the ego with the feelings of guilt. If we are behaving according to superego’s image of ideal-self, then the superego can also reward us by making us feel proud.
Superego in action
It has been almost 80 years since the death of Sigmund Freud, neurologist and the founder of Psychoanalysis. Freud’s theories and techniques have been widely criticised, especially for very little empirical evidence to back the theories up. Yet, it was Freud who developed idea of irrational forces outside of conscious mind that determine human thoughts and experience. Today, the idea of unconscious mind is widely accepted and scientifically proven.
The Freudian perspective and definition of superego gives us an insight into the nature of inner critic, the critical voice that whispers doubts and fears. Inner voice, just like superego, develops in early childhood and tries to keep you in the Good Girl or Good Boy square. It is perceived as a safe space where your parents will accept you and love you if you’re acting according to their rules and norms. Developing a superego is a necessary thing to learn as a child and it gives you an inner compass to regulate you behaviour.
The superego aims towards perfection. It is judging and always comparing to the ideal image, therefor it keeps devaluating you if the ideal self is too high a standard. What happens to many of us an for the most of the time is that the superego becomes our inner voice. Our inner voice and inner critic are fused together and the critical voice is being mistaken for — our own voice.
Separating from the Superego
How do you know it is the critical voice and not your inner voice that motivates you to become a stronger, better person? A critical inner voice attacks you as a person and devalues you as a whole, not just your behaviour or a mistake. It makes you feel worthless, small, guilty and ashamed. Once you try to recognise your inner critic and see it as separated from yourself, you might even start recognising the tone, words and messages it is using to attack you. Whenever a new impulse arises, try to stay with it and observe it. The inner critic will still try to stop you but it is you who is making the decisions now. Explore your own voice and pay attention to your own impulses and feelings. Once you start to dis-identify from you superego you are already forming a healthier ego and more authentic self.
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