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Id, Ego, Superego
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According to Webster’s, these are the definitions for id, ego and superego:
Id: the one of the three divisions of the psyche in psychoanalytic theory that is completely unconscious and is the source of psychic energy derived from instinctual needs and drives
ego: the one of the three divisions of the psyche in psychoanalytic theory that serves as the organized conscious mediator between the person and reality especially by functioning both in the perception of and adaptation to reality
superego: the one of the three divisions of the psyche in psychoanalytic theory that is only partly conscious, represents internalization of parental conscience and the rules of society, and functions to reward and punish through a system of moral attitudes, conscience, and a sense of guilt
Now… I just had an interesting conversation the other night about these concepts based on my post “Alcohol Is No Excuse”. Basically, what I said in that post, without getting into the underlying psychology is that as long as you don’t completely incapacitate yourself with alcohol, you’re doing what you WANT to do when you’re drunk, and not some crazy, off-the-wall ish that “came out of nowhere”. Therefore, Alcohol is NOT an excuse for cheating or abusive behavior or whatever.
So I’m chatting with this friend of mine, and she asks me about Freud. I’m like “What about him?”, and she brings up id, ego and superego. I don’t remember verbatim what she said, but it revolved around which of the three is actually “You”. I hadn’t thought about it before, because, to me, it’s obvious that the id is “You”… However, I realize that my whole post about alcohol was based on that particular belief of mine and that it’s worth discussing the three divisions.
According to the definition above, the id is your natural instinct… it’s what you would do without any parameters or external interference. The superego holds the rules for what you’re SUPPOSED to do in a given situation. The ego is where “You” decide what you’re going to do, taking into account the influences of the id and the superego. My impression of drinking, based on these three, is that there’s the potential for the superego to become disabled or disappear entirely, leaving the ego with only the stimulus from the id when it comes to deciding what to do.
This is why people wake up the next day talkin’ ’bout “Why didn’t you stop me?” and “I’m not that type of person” and “I don’t hook up with people I just met” and “I only screw attractive chicks” and “That’s not your twin brother’s baby… it’s yours”. They’ve tried so hard to NOT be who they really are that they don’t recognize their own behavior when the rules disappear from their minds.
So… Depending on how you see this, by alcohol removing the superego’s influence, it’s either removing what you think is “You”, leaving you ‘prey’ to your own natural instincts… or it’s ENABLING you to be “You” by removing what you’ve been taught that’s suppressing your natural way of being. Well… Sorry… You are NOT the rules your parents taught you. You are NOT what you learned in school. You are NOT the contents of your wallet. You are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world.
How do I know this? Because whomever you really are, you will be taught different things depending on what society you’re born into or come into contact with. “Morals” are different in different places. That has nothing to do with who YOU are and what turns YOU on and what doesn’t. The superego is set up for you to not make yourself a pariah or worse by disrespecting society’s standards. If your society says every guy should have ONE girlfriend and you have SEVERAL, you’re out of bounds. The superego reminds you to play it off as if you’re only messing with one chick. Are you really doing that? No. You’re maintaining your staus in society (as well as assuring a decent probability of physical safety/survival) by going along with what people EXPECT you to do and what people TOLD you to do.
How come these rules go out the window for some people when they drink? How come people don’t adhere MORE TIGHTLY to the rules that they “live by” when they’re sober? How come it’s not the id that ‘goes’, instead of the superego? How come people do more ‘dirt’ when they’re drunk than when they’re sober? How come the people that do ‘dirt’ when they’re sober don’t become pious individuals when they get drunk? :D It’s because the entire thing is a front, and you are who you are, regardless of the rules you’re TRYING to follow.
So the next time somebody gets drunk and does something and replies “that wasn’t me”, ask them who it was. :D Ask them where they got the idea to do what they did. Did they get it from television? Did they get drunk and then see something in a movie and want to see if they could do it in real life? :D Where did this impulse come from for your boyfriend to screw your sister or stay out all night without calling you? How come your girl was spotted at the club getting her freak on with the next man? Please… Feel FREE to ask people that tell you that alcohol was an excuse for what they did to tell you WHERE they got the idea and post it here, or on your own blog or whatever, because either they don’t want to admit or they don’t UNDERSTAND that it was actually THEIR idea from the beginning.
Also… How is it that there’s a common thread to what happens? How come people don’t get drunk and buy your mother flowers? :D Get drunk and paint your car? Get drunk and fund your startup?… ok, bad example. I’m sure that happens all the time, but you see what I’m saying. How come it’s always stuff that people try to excuse away? That’s because they did What. They. Wanted. To. Do, and what they would have done in the first place if they weren’t carrying their brainwashing around with them in their superegos.
You know what else is common amongst humans?
Smiling.
Did you notice that? Regardless of what language people speak, they tend to SMILE when they’re happy and FROWN when they’re upset. Do you know why that is? Did they ALL get the memo? Did people around the world DECIDE that they were going to teach babies to smile and laugh when they’re happy? I know *I* didn’t get that memo. Do you think it’s the superego that’s smiling? Is it morally right in lots of countries with DIFFERING moral codes to smile or laugh when you feel happy? Is it the ego that’s smiling? Do you CHOOSE to smile, because you won’t become a pariah or get attacked by society if you do so? Is it a natural reaction of the id? Is it purely physical?
So, yeah. I say the id is “You”, the superego is the set of rules that keeps you safe in the society you happen to be in and the ego handles the conscious decision-making between what you WANT to do and what you’re actually GOING to do.
Now, in some cases, the choice is the same. Some guys open doors for the ladies whether they’re drunk or sober. Some people are loud and obnoxious drunk or sober. Some people are FREAKS drunk or sober. Some people are piously religious drunk or sober. Also, like I said in the other post, people can definitely incapacitate themselves with alcohol, which is a totally different issue from drinking to the point where your superego takes a vacation. If you can’t drink, DON’T DRINK. Period. If you’re friends with someone that can’t handle their liquor, TELL THEM SO and do what you can to make them see the light. Videotape them if you have to, so you can show these “I’m not that type of person” people the type of people that they really are.
So if you’ve read this far, I’m impressed. :) I’d love to hear/read what you think as far as where “You” reside in your psyche, and whether you think alcohol disables the “You” or enables the “You”. Meanwhile, You can go vote for me on the Silicon Alley 100 or catch up with me at the bar! :D
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13 Responses to “Id, Ego, Superego”
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Whatever drug we take, we feel at the time that it is the Real Self emerging. How do we know that alcohol is special?
hahaha Yeah! Actually, that’s a good point, too. People claim to be able to see more clearly or expand their minds. :)
That would be interesting to hear from people with drug experience. I don’t have any, so I can only speak about alcohol. Then again, I suppose the person would have to be “posting under the influence” in order to relieve themselves of their superego which will admonish them that they will potentially be chastised for admitting drug use! :D
You know, I was always an introvert growing up–family crap, blah blah–then at 18 a friend got me into the school play AND the school musical. The boy who sat alone in a basement drawing was forced to deal with people and then perform for an audience of greater people. The play that year actually won a regional competition and we spent a week at an even larger audience and at some point along these line my introvert kinda busted up–I became a total hyperactive extrovert.
With that said, I never really drank until I was 25–I missed that whole “stupid drinking” part of my college/university days. Some where in the early 20s though I started to go introvert again and only occasionally would I enter social groups to interact.
When I started drinking (and heavily at times) that busted up my introvert again. I was a social uber-freak. I never did stupid crap that offended people, objectified people or even disgraced myself in public (well… overtly so).
I’m turning 31 now and the drinking bouts still happen, but not as often. I’m finding a sort of balance between the two… BUT, I definitely am aware of how much more likely I am to get into a rant or meet strangers when I got a few in me. I’m actually aware of thinking I want to say something or meet someone, and I just do it “because I’m drunk” so who cares if I fall on my face doing it, right?
Anyways, so now it’s turned into more of an excuse in the sense that it’s a security for me when dealing with party-atmosphere social situations. On a business level I still have the confidence to hold my own, but I do wonder if my “true self” is being held back every time.
Things to ponder my man, things to ponder…
Nuno,
That’s why they call it “Social Lubricant”, hahaha :)
The question remains… does alcoholic consumption (in moderation, not overdone, as I’ve mentioned in the post) make you do things you would NORMALLY have done, or does it create ABNORMAL mental states for you?
My impression is that you temporarily “forget” your reasons to be introverted. Some people would call that “losing yourself”, while others would call it “finding yourself”. :D
Perhaps it’s more like “stop caring who I THINK I need to be”… how’s that? :)
Reason I say that is that people have this perception of what is a “right way to act” when in fact I don’t believe there IS a right way to act. There are respectable ways to act… responsible ways to act… reasonable ways to act… all these have rules imposed by what people BELIEVE the rules are.
Not saying rules in society aren’t important–only that they can awkwardly place limits on people that are naturally bent on breaking certain social boundaries.
I’d hate to encourage alcohol as a form to figure out “who you really ARE are” instead of “THINK you are”… but within reason it can be the excuse some people need to come to some sort of awareness about it all.
If you turn into an asshole every time… stop drinking and come to terms that you’re an asshole. Then you can work on your personality traits with full awareness that you have a little asshole in you that taints your connection with others and inhibits life’s opportunities.
Hope that adds some more value haha! Great convo btw!
im checking mt room right now for “bugs”… “We” seem to have the same discussions with others!!
Simple aside to the whole convo:
If you can start a night by saying “im gonna get wasted and f*ck the first guy/girl I see…” then you CAN’T end it by saying “holy shyt, i gotta stop drinking..it makes me do stoopid things”!! You cant throw in the disabled disclaimer because the only pageant your paramour would ever win is “Fugly Person of the Year”! You knew you getting “nice” was going to lead to some kind of sexual encounter! You were just waiting to hunt down your prey.
Most of us (no facts to back this but by most of us I mean you MANY WOMAN)know ahead of time that getting your drink on is english for getting your freak on. It ENABLES you do act in a manner that you can then explain away!
We are who we are, unfortunetly many have been conditioned by society to pretend we are not and to feign indignation when commenting on others!
Good work Mr.Cammack but im still feeling like you are here listening! lol
[...] you love her if she’s already in a so-called relationship to someone else. The job of your Superego is to carry society’s brainwashing along with you to beat you over the head whenever [...]
Sometimes, this thing just doesn’t update me correctly… :/
@Nuno: Absolutely. There’s no “right way to act”. There are ways to act which coincide with the society one happens to live in or currently be in (like if you go on vacation to some other country), and there are ways to act that are within the LAWS of that particular location, but everyone has their own ideas of what’s right and what’s wrong and what their own boundaries and limitations are.
Rules are important to keep everyone going BASICALLY in the same direction, but ultimately, it’s more important to surround one’s self with HONORABLE people who are willing to respect the others around them and make things as comfortable for everyone around as possible.
For instance, IRL, I curse my ass off, :) however, if I’m around little kids, I’m not going to do that, because it’s my own PERSONAL decision not to influence them in that fashion. Other people go “it’s my life, I’ll do what I want” and they act however they want in front of anyone. That’s their choice, and while I personally feel it’s a LAME way to live, I understand and respect their position.
The only reason why alcohol might be a form to figure out “who you really ARE” is that people tend to repress who they are in order to fit into society. Depending on how deep they bury “themselves”, some words from their friends the next day about all the stuff they did while they were drunk might be just what they need to kick-start their re-emergence into reality.
@Frank: hahaha We have the same conversations with people because people are redundant and predictable. :D
True Dat as far as not blaming the sauce if you KNOW what you’re gonna do after you get drunk. Some people use alcohol to “get around” the fact that their visual taste is garbage. They don’t want to admit to themselves that they like busted chicks, so alcohol is a good way for them to explain away gettin’ in where they FIT in.
lol, No bugs planted by ME, sunnnnn! :D It’s just that when you’ve been around the block a million times, you’ve heard it all and seen it all and people’s redundancies become glaringly apparent… Whereas back in the day, you thought it was some major accomplishment to get some chick you’ve never seen before to make out with you up in the cheap seats @ Palladium! ;)
Hi
How are you ?
I come to H.k. , My english not very well , I learning Personality now ,That time I found about Carl Guatav Jung Theroy because my homework on 3 Feb much be send my Dr. I saw your blog i download some theroy for my guop presentation powerpoint due with thk!
I have time i will read again
Thank you Mawin. :)
Good luck with your project! :D
Hi Bill,
How are you, long time no see yet, i feel so happly because you don’t forget me !
Now, my job is very bush for every day , i study Psychology 2 courses by learning and motivation and theories of how our brain works by (Feud),If you have some idea for Hypnsis/Meditation /Sleep and Dream or Other states of consciousness information please told me with thank!
I wait yr new!
Mawin
My favorite Sleep/Dream materials are all Carlos Casteneda, even though his writings may be more FICTION than FACT, hahaha. I have no way of knowing, one way or the other, but they’re EXCELLENT reads, regardless. :)
Keep up the good work, Mawin! :D
~Bill