Ego means the conscience, the “I of each one”, that is, what characterizes the personality of each individual.
The concept of ego is widely used in studies related to psychoanalysis and philosophy. According to psychoanalytic theory, the ego is part of the triad of the psychic model, formed by the ego, superego and id.
The ego is considered the “personality defender”, it is responsible for preventing the unconscious contents from passing into the field of consciousness, thus triggering its defense mechanisms.
One of the main functions of the ego is to harmonize the id's desires with the superego's moral values. Thus, the ego suppresses the id's unconscious wills with "fear" of the punishments and sanctions that may be directed at it.
The ego is responsible for the differentiation that the individual is able to make between his own inner processes and the reality that presents itself to him.
Difference between Ego, Superego and Id
All are part of the so-called triad of the psychic model.
O ego, as said, is the conscious part of individuals and develops from the interaction of human beings with reality. He acts according to moral values and what society expects without ignoring his own desires. At the same time, it seeks to satisfy the id's needs (drives and instincts) without extrapolating the moral values present in the superego.
O id it is the innate instinct of the individual, that is, the primitive desires, wills and drives of people, and which are filtered by the Ego and Superego.
O Super ego it is the "repressor" of the Ego. It develops from the individual's interaction with reality and represents the moral and cultural values that are taught and assimilated by the person. The superego is the "ideal self" suited to society's customs, principles, and moral values.
Read more about difference between Ego, Superego and Id.
Ego and Freud's Theory
The ego is based on the classical theory of Sigmund Freud, which is a set of hypotheses about how people's brains work.
For Freud, the ego is based that every psychic event is determined by previous events, that is, there are no accidents. The ego is also based on the existence of the unconscious, which manifests itself in different ways in mental life.
Learn more about Psychoanalysis.
alter ego
The alter ego is literally translated as a "second self" or "another self". It consists in the existence of a second personality present in a single individual.
In literature, for example, the alter ego is when a certain author produces a story under the point of view of another person, assuming for himself a personality different from hers to build that constructions.
In the field of psychoanalysis, the alter ego can be considered a pathological symptom, such as Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Find out more about the meaning of alter ego.
