SIGMUND FREUD’s THEORY OF HUMAN PSYCHE
The human psyche is the totality or the collection of all the processes from the
brain, mind, body, heart, etc. that comprises on being a human. This what makes
psychology as the scientific study that deals with studying the “human psyche”.
According to Franz Brentano, German philosopher and psychologist,
psychology should study not merely the elements of consciousness but also
mental actions and the way they are directed towards entities other than
themselves.
According to Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist who completed his studies
at Universität Wien (University of Vienna) and is recognized as the Father of
Psychoanalysis, the “steele” or the human psyche is divided into three parts: Id,
Ego and Super-Ego.

Sigmund Freud’s Parts of the Human Psyche:
1. Id – It is the Latinized version of the word “It”. It is basically the part of the
human psyche wherein it operates under the pleasure principle, the basic
instinctual and sexual drives or impulse of a person that must be gratified
immediately, could be found. It is the only part wherein a person possesses from
birth. It acts as the driving force of a person’s personality. It knows “no good,
no evil”.
Divisions of the Id:
A. Libido – it is the term to describe a person’s sexual drive or desire for sexual
activity. It is said to be the “driving force of all behavior”. It can come into
conflict with the norms of the society. Many factors such as age,
medications, physiological conditions and stress can affect the libido’s
energy or drive.
B. Thanatos – it is also called as the “death drive”. According to Freud, the goal
of all life is “death”. It controls the person’s tendency of aggression, self-
harm or other vicious behaviors.
2. Ego – It is the Latinized version of the word “I”. It is the action of a person who
acts according to Realitätsprinzip or the reality principle, the principle behind
the mind’s tendency to assess the consequences of an action. It acts as the
mediator between the id and super-ego. Man’s consciousness awareness, as
well as defensive, perceptual and cognitive control is to be located here.
3. Super-Ego – It is the last component of the human psyche to be developed. It is
the part wherein teachings from parents, morals and societal norms are
attributed and taken into consideration. Its main functions are to suppress any
drives coming from the id to take into reality and to strive moral perfection.
Ego Ideal – It is a part of the super-ego wherein it pictures an ideal version of
ourselves that mirrors out the characteristics or features we want to show
others.