Id, Ego, Super-Ego

When I was a young teenager, my mom, my brother and I would go to the mall every Wednesday. I will always remember the first time I saw someone get arrested. I was walking in the middle of the Montgomery Mall when we passed a group of police officers that were in progress of arresting someone. My mom asked one officer what had happened. He said that it was just some kid that was shoplifting a video game. I looked at the offender, he was my age. So much had gone through my mind when I saw he was just as old as me. What could possible have been going through this kid's mind? Why did he do it if he knew it was against the law? I was completely perplexed that this young boy had broken the law. The classic "if you can't do the time, don't do the crime" quote had immediately gone through my mind. I could not fathom what made the video game he wanted have more value to him than following the rules. It made me wonder about why everyone does not do what they want all the time. I want a video game, what keeps me from taking it like this boy did? What is different in each person that stops them from taking the metaphorical "video game" that they want? It wasn't until my senior year in high school that I thought much about this incident. I took a psychology class and we talked about Sigmund Freud. He came up with the concepts of the "id", "super ego", and "ego". All three parts are part of our metaphysical mind that attempt to have equilibrium with each other to satisfy ourselves. The "id" is completely unconscious. It is our innate impulses to satisfy our every want regardless of the consequences. The "super ego" is more or less our morals. Freud said that this part “can be thought of as a type of conscience that punishes misbehavior with feelings of guilt." This part is learned and experienced from your parents and others that surround you in your development. Society plays major role in the "super ego". We learn from society what is acceptable and what is right. Between