The id is a source of all energy stimulation; life or death, and desire of sex. The id never devises a plan to get what it wants. The id
also cannot make a decision and distinguish whether it is right or wrong. Pleasure is the only purpose of id.
2. Ego
Ego is the only part of personality that can make a contact with reality. The ego itself does not have energy. Ego can do its function
because of the energy from the Id. The ego is used to communicate with external w
orld. “The ego becomes the decision-making or executive branch of personality”
34
based on reality principle. Of all urges, instincts, or needs come from id, ego must choose
which desire that is rational and irrational. Afterwards, ego has to get the appropriate objects to satisfy its wish.
35
In this action, ego must be able to control the unreasonable demands of the id. The contact with
reality makes ego to do things that ego should do, but sometimes it creates a conflict between id and ego. One way to push down the
rational demand from id is postponing it. Actually it is because what she wants is produced yet. By postponing it, the ego avoids the pain in
the id. 3.
Superego Superego stands for moralistic and idealistic principles. This
personality structure is different from the id and ego. When id wants to
34
Ibid., p. 29.
35
Ferdinand Zaviera, Teori Kepribadian Sigmund Freud Jogjakarta: PRISMASOPHIE, 2007, p. 94.
have the satisfaction and the ego tries to make a decision, the superego must choose what should or should not do.
Like the ego, superego does not have its own energy. Superego gets the energy that comes from the id. This energy distribution occurs
when the id wants something. A well-developed superego can hold the impulse from id. In carrying out its duty to make a decision or the
reason behind it, the ego is always supervised by the superego. When there is a thing that is contrary to the moral standard of superego, the
ego will feel guilty. The inferior feeling also appears when the ego fails to meet the standard of perfection set by superego.
“The superego, however, is like the id in that it is completely ignorant of, and
unconcerned with, the practicability of its requirements.”
36
E. Defense Mechanism
In 1926, Freud introduced defense mechanism for the first time as a method to control the urges or needs in ourselves. This method is built
by the ego to satisfy the id. The main purpose of ego forming defense mechanism is to reduce the anxiety and unpleasant emotions.
37
That anxiety and unpleasant emotions actually occur in facing the impulses
from the id. By using defense mechanism, the ego transforms the impulses becomes another thing which is better.
36
Ibid., p. 31.
37
Clifford T. Morgan Richard A. King, Introduction to Psychology, fourth edition, Japan: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1971, p. 374.
1. Repression
The most common and powerful defense mechanism is repression.
According to Morgan, Repression is a kind of “forgetting” where a person forgets the things that make him uncomfortable.
38
In another word, it is a way to reduce the emotional frustration by
pushing down the unwanted memories or undesired feeling and thoughts to the unconscious.
39
This is a fight of the id and ego. When the ego must face the urge from id and that urge is something
unwanted, the ego protects itself by pushing down that urge to the unconscious. For example, someone can easily forget to pay a bill
because paying it might bring him or her uncomfortably close to insolvency.
40
2. Displacement
Displacement is a way to reduce the anxiety by shifting the impulses onto another people or object. This replacement may be done
for people cannot express their feeling in a safe manner to a person they directed at. For example, a woman is getting angry with her boss.
Because she respects her boss, she cannot do something or show her anger to the boss. What she will do is obeying her boss. Then, she may
displace her anger onto her boyfriend, her pet, or her roommate.
41
38
Ibid.
39
Jess Feist Gregory J. Feist, op. cit., p. 35.
40
Clifford T. Morgan Richard A. King, op. cit.
41
Jess Feist Gregory J. Feist, op. cit., p. 36.
3. Projection
Projection is a one of defense mechanism by attributing someone‟s unwanted urge or instinct to an external object. This is due
to the excessive anxiety. Actually it is a tendency to see the urge from the others that we do not want to have. Whereas that urge comes from
our own self.
42
For example, if a student has a strong desire to cheat on his examination but cannot admit it to himself due to the moral
code, he will distrust of others and accuse them of cheating when they are innocent.
43
4. Sublimation
The only one of defense mechanism that can be accepted by society is sublimation. Sublimation makes the urges and instinct from
the id becomes more acceptable either culturally or socially. The purpose of this mechanism is to maintain a stable relationship between
human being and his social activity, so the social achievement and personal pleasure can be reached.
44
For example is when someone cannot satisfy his sexual motive, he will satisfy the motive by finding
some other outlet which seems to reduce the tension, such as painting, visiting the art, or listening to music.
45
42
Ibid., p. 37.
43
Clifford T. Morgan Richard A. King, op. cit., p. 376.
44
Ferdinand Zaviera, op. cit., p. 109.
45
Clifford T. Morgan Richard A. King, op. cit., p. 378.
