A Closer Look at the Ego
So just what function does the ego serve in personality?
The horse represents the id, a powerful force that offers the energy to propel forward motion.
The rider represents the ego, the guiding force that directs the power of the id toward a goal.
David Ryle / Stone / Getty Images
Freud noted, however, that this relationship did not always go as planned.
So what did Freud have to say about his concept of the ego?
He wrote extensively about the ego as well as its relationship to other aspects of personality.
The three tyrants are the external world, the superego, and the id."
At the height of being in love the boundary between ego and object threatens to melt away.
Freud himself referred to it as ‘das Ich,’ meaning ‘the I’ in German.
The term ‘ego’ was added by Freud’s translator.
In everyday usage, the term ‘ego’ is often used to describe a person’s sense of self-importance.
It is important to note that narcissism and egocentrism are not precisely the same.
They may also manipulate others to get the attention and acclaim they desire.
What This Means For You
Ego has a couple of different meanings in psychology.
In other cases, people use it to refer to a person’s sense of identity and self-importance.
Having a healthy ego is important, but having an inflated sense of self can lead to problems.
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