Freuds Theories on Personality

Freud’s Theories on Personality Sigmund Freud developed psychodynamic theories on personality. He believed that there are three elements to our personality. The first is the ID, the second is the ego, and the third is the superego. He believed that each element keeps the others in check; therefore if all elements are well balanced the person had a healthy personality. Freud also developed a theory in which he believed our subconscious developed defense mechanisms to help us cope with anxiety and conflict. Finally, and quite possibly the most controversial and most known of his theories, he developed what he called the ‘psychosexual stages’. According to Sean McLeod, Freud believed life was composed of either pleasure or tension, and that tension was just built up sexual energy and pleasure was the only way to release the tension. (McLeod, 2008) As you can imagine, his theories were not widely accepted and are still hot topics of debate amongst psychoanalysts today. Freud believed the only element of our personality that is present at birth is the ID. He believed it to be the unconscious and included all of our natural and primitive instincts, or survival instincts. Freud was convinced that the ID is ruled by the pleasure principle. McLeod’s impression of the pleasure principle is that when the id doesn’t receive the gratification it seeks it begins to experience unpleasure. (McLeod, 2008) For instance, when an infant is hungry it will cry until it is fed. Being fed is part of the ID because it is a survival instinct and when that need is fulfilled it provides pleasure in a feeling of being full or satisfied. If the infant is not fed he/she goes into a sort of panic and experiences the unpleasure feeling. Freud also believed this was where the vast majority of libido energy was stored. The ID could be considered the devil on one’s shoulder, encouraging them to do whatever it takes to achieve pleasure. Regardless of the risk or complications, it wants