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Discuss Freud's psycho-analytic theory of personality.

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Ans.

One of the most comprehensive approaches to personality and its development was formulated by Sigmund Freud.

According to him behaviour is determined by the interplay of events and conflicts within the inner life of the individual is central to his approach.

Following are the postulates of psycho-analytic theory:

(i) Levels of Consciousness: Freud compared the human mind to an iceberg.

— The small part that shows above the surface of the water is conscious. It is individuals awareness. Beneath this conscious realm is the much larger Preconscious which contains information that is not currently on our mind but we could bring into consciousness if called upon to do so.

— Finally beneath the preconscious and forming the bulk of the iceberg below the water is the Unconscious which is a storehouse of desires, impulses and inaccessible memories which affect our thoughts and behaviour.

(ii) Structure of Personality: Freud divided personality into three major systems - Id, Ego and Super ego—that interact to govern human behaviour.

ID: Id is the most primitive part of the personality, it is the storehouse of all basic primitive needs. Id works on pleasure principle and seeks immediate gratification of the impulses.

Ego: Ego is the reality based aspect of self. It develops out of Id. It is governed by the reality principle - the gratification of impulses must be delayed until the situation is appropriate.

SUPER EGO: It is the inner voice of thoughts and should nots. It is the values and morals of society and comprises the individual's conscience.

(iii) Ego-defense Mechanism: When conflicts among Id, ego and the super ego is not resolved then the ego experiences anxiety, intense feeling of nervousness, tension and worry. According to Freud the ego uses defence mechanism for the maintenance of the self.