If we take a closer look at Slide 8 in this chapter, we find the “iceberg” conceptualization of the personality as proposed by Freud, and which has been the cornerstone of the psychoanalytic model. Of particular interest is what goes on in the preconscious and especially the unconscious, which for Freud contained the “id”, or the psychic energy which is impulsive, illogical, and which is built on the pleasure principle of immediate gratification.
The ego which tries to help the id deal with the real world, and the superego which corresponds to our conscience and moral belief system, also functioning to keep the id in check.
If we look at the relative volumes associated with these 3 parts of who we are and what we do, we see that only “the tip of the iceberg” is what we project to others. Both men and women have personalities that, depending upon the level of function of the ego and superego, contain the “inner child”, or id, which makes itself known all throughout life, but in various ways. If you’re told as an adult, “you’re acting like a child”, it may really be true!
So, turn your eyes inward, so to speak, and your assignment is to examine who you really are and how you project yourself to others. Is your id under control? You need it. Do you use it wisely? Take a look at your ego and superego….what messages do you send? And finally, what about your behaviors might you want to change? You may share voluntarily with your class to the extent you feel comfortable. Lastly, do you feel that Freud’s model is a valid one? If so, how so? If not, tell us why not. If you remain uncomfortable about your responses, select one person you know very well, and use him or her as the subject who may have some qualities that you wish he or she might “work on”.
book:Licht, D. M., Hull, M. G., & Ballantyne, C. (2017). Psychology (3rd edition). New York: Worth Publishers. ISBN-13:978-1-319-23715-8
