Question

Ben watches his mother make chocolate-chip cookies and knows she does not want him to eat any of the cookies before dinner. He is seriously tempted to help himself to a cookie or two once his mother leaves the room but decides not to because it is not right to do so. Identify Ben's Freudian structure of personality at work in this situation.

Answer 1

Answer:

The Freudian structure of personality at work in this situation is the superego.

Explanation:

According to Sigmund Freud, the personality has three components: id, ego, and superego. The id is the part that functions with the purpose of satisfying urges, desires, and needs. It is the only part present at birth, so we can think of it as more primitive than the others. The ego is developed from the id. It still works to satisfy the id, but in a more realistic and accepted manner. Finally, the superego is the part that internalizes moral standards, the sense of right and wrong we are taught by society, our parents, etc. It is the superego, therefore, that provides us with guidelines to make judgments and decisions.

As we can see, Ben has chosen to ignore his urge to eat a couple of cookies before dinner. Even though his id wants him to, he chooses to not do it "because it is not right." Ben is making a judgment based on what his mother has taught him. He is, thus, being guided by his superego.