Psychology: The ID - Instincts and Libido

Id, Ego, and Superego

• The Id is the reservoir for instincts and libido, operating on the pleasure principle to increase pleasure and avoid pain.
• It strives for immediate satisfaction of its needs without considering others' wants.
• The Id is selfish, pleasure-seeking, and primitive, knowing only instant gratification.
• It is present from birth.

Superego

• The Superego is acquired in childhood, representing internal morality or conscience.
• It develops around 3 years old, internalizing parental teachings and self-administering rewards and punishments.
• The Superego strives solely based on moral principles, not pleasure or realistic goals.

Ego

• The Ego is the rational master of the personality, helping the Id obtain realistic satisfaction.
• It determines appropriate and socially acceptable times, places, and objects to satisfy Id impulses.
• The Ego operates on the reality principle, perceiving and manipulating the environment in a practical and realistic manner.
• It tries to control anxiety through ego defense mechanisms.

Stages of Development

Oral Stage

• Time period: Birth to 18 months
• Erogenous zone: mouth
• Gratification through sucking and swallowing
• Oral fixation can lead to overeating, smoking, and drinking in adulthood

Anal Stage

• Time period: 1 1/2 to 3 years of age
• Erogenous zone: anus
• Children experience control and discipline from parents, leading to toilet training
• Anal fixation can lead to excessive tidiness, perfectionism, and stubbornness, or a lack of self-control, carelessness, and messy behavior

Phallic Stage

• Time period: 3 to 6 years
• Erogenous zone: genitals
• Boys experience Oedipus complex, directing sexual impulses towards their mother
• Castration anxiety: a male's fear of losing his genitals, related to the Oedipus complex
• In normal development, the child reduces this anxiety and identifies with his father

Latency Period

• During this period, children try to socialize only with members of their own gender
• This helps minimize awareness of "sexuality" and continues the process of sexual repression

Id, Ego, and Superego

• The Id is the reservoir for instincts and libido, operating on the pleasure principle to increase pleasure and avoid pain.
• It strives for immediate satisfaction of its needs without considering others' wants.
• The Id is selfish, pleasure-seeking, and primitive, knowing only instant gratification.
• It is present from birth.

Superego

• The Superego is acquired in childhood, representing internal morality or conscience.
• It develops around 3 years old, internalizing parental teachings and self-administering rewards and punishments.
• The Superego strives solely based on moral principles, not pleasure or realistic goals.

Ego

• The Ego is the rational master of the personality, helping the Id obtain realistic satisfaction.
• It determines appropriate and socially acceptable times, places, and objects to satisfy Id impulses.
• The Ego operates on the reality principle, perceiving and manipulating the environment in a practical and realistic manner.
• It tries to control anxiety through ego defense mechanisms.

Stages of Development

Oral Stage

• Time period: Birth to 18 months
• Erogenous zone: mouth
• Gratification through sucking and swallowing
• Oral fixation can lead to overeating, smoking, and drinking in adulthood

Anal Stage

• Time period: 1 1/2 to 3 years of age
• Erogenous zone: anus
• Children experience control and discipline from parents, leading to toilet training
• Anal fixation can lead to excessive tidiness, perfectionism, and stubbornness, or a lack of self-control, carelessness, and messy behavior

Phallic Stage

• Time period: 3 to 6 years
• Erogenous zone: genitals
• Boys experience Oedipus complex, directing sexual impulses towards their mother
• Castration anxiety: a male's fear of losing his genitals, related to the Oedipus complex
• In normal development, the child reduces this anxiety and identifies with his father

Latency Period

• During this period, children try to socialize only with members of their own gender
• This helps minimize awareness of "sexuality" and continues the process of sexual repression