Ego vs. Superego
Key Differences
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Ego and Superego Definitions
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Ego vs. Superego
The part of the mind, which mediates between conscious and subconscious, is called ego. In contrast, the part of the mind, which is a self-critical conscience, is called the superego. The ego refers to reality. In contrast, the superego refers to perfectionism, a sense of ideality that is learned from parents and teachers.
The ego comprises reasoning, judgment, understanding, and planning. On the other hand, the superego is comprised of punishments, warnings, and rewards. The ego can be defined as having a realistic approach to life, whereas the superego is the last component toward the critical and moralizing part.
The ego is mainly related to long-term benefits and results of actions. On the flip side, the superego is concerned about rules and other norms in dealing with a person’s actions and possessions. The ego acts as a bridge between id and superego, which are parts of the psyche of the brain. On the other hand, the superego confines both id and ego for the consequences of their actions.
The leading role of the ego is maintaining the balance between the conscious and unconscious. In contrast, the leading role of the superego is confining the mind in the boundaries of norms and morality, and restricting them from becoming socially unacceptable.
The ego manages to deal with id part of the psyche, pleasing as well as controlling it at the same time. On the flip side, the superego directly contradicts the id, limiting the human actions by keeping their consequences in mind.
What is Ego?
The ego is defined as the part of id that has been altered by the uninterrupted influence of the external world. The ego develops to mediate between a real-world and an unrealistic id. The ego develops after the development of id, which is beyond reality.
The ego develops at the age of 3 years, after which sense of reality is being produced in an individual. The ego is the decision-making factor that determines the personality of an individual. The ego works by logical reasoning, whereas id is absurd, unrealistic, and unreasonable.
The ego works considering the social standards and protocols, often negotiating or suspending satisfaction to escape negative concerns and comments of society. The ego helps a person how to behave and satisfy the id’s demands by working out realistically.
The ego lends a hand in appeasing and pleasing id’s demands as well as control its chaotic attitude by confining it into social norms. The ego resembles id in seeking pleasure and reducing stress but contradicts id in devising a realistic strategy to obtain pleasure. The ego has no discernment of right or wrong as its only determination is achieving satisfaction without causing damage either to itself or its id.
In most cases, the ego is weak, and the id is strong. The primary purpose of the ego is to give id the right direction and claim credit itself hor heading toward the right direction. Its example is made by the correspondence of id being horse, while ego being the rider.
What is Superego?
Superego is defined as a sense of morality and goodness that controls the limitless id. Superego is developed after the development of id and ego at the age of 5 years. During the 3-5 years, the phallic stage of psychosexual development, superego, is technologically advanced and nourished.
The main role in its development is played by teachers and parents that teach a child to differentiate good from the bad. This ideal behavior, being the basis of the superego, controls the id’s impulses, especially those that are forbidden by society, i.e., hostility and antagonism.
The superego forces the ego to turn its goals from striving for reality to moralistic goals striving for perfection. The superego is comprised of two classifications. The first one is the conscience, which can discipline the ego by producing feelings of guiltiness. For example, if the ego rejects the id’s demands and enforces an individual to strive for reality, the superego may make the person feel bad and guilty.
The second classification of the superego is the ideal self. The ideal self is also called ego-ideal, which demonstrates an imaginary picture of how things should be, how to treat other people, how to represent yourself in society, etc.
The perfect picture of the world, yourself, and people linked to you is reflected by the ideal self category of the superego. The superego may punish us if we neglected the ideal self, or it may make us feel proud if we behaved properly following the ideal self.
