Freud believed human behavior is driven by the id, ego, and superego. The id operates on the pleasure principle seeking immediate gratification of desires. The ego uses reason and reality to satisfy the id within social norms. The superego incorporates moral values and causes guilt when one fails to act properly. Freud saw the id as the source of motivation, while the superego represses urges motivating good behavior. Childhood experiences shape the development of ego and superego as children learn acceptable behavior.

1. Freud & Motivation

2. Sigmund Freud
• Perhaps the most influential of all psychologists
• Also controversial: some theories are still popular today, others
are considered outlandish
• Underlying his work is the idea that our unconscious minds
influence our behavior (and we are not aware of this influence).

3. Freud’s View of “Motivation”
Freud believed that human behavior is
driven by the id, ego, and superego.

4. The “Id”
The instinctual part of the mind that responds
immediately to wants and desires. It operates on the
pleasure principle, and does not follow logic or reason.The
id is chaotic and animal-like, simply seeking pleasure and
avoiding pain.
Id = Instincts:
Natural drives and behaviors that are
found in all animals. For example,
animals instinctively seek things that
bring them pleasure (food, water,
freedom, sex) and fear things that bring
them pain.

5. The “Id”
The instinctual part of the mind that responds
immediately to wants and desires. It operates on the
pleasure principle, and does not follow logic or reason.The
id is chaotic and animal-like, simply seeking pleasure and
avoiding pain.
I’M SO ANGRY AT MY
FRIEND! I AM GOING TO
PUNCH HER IN THE FACE!

6. The Pleasure Principle
The need to seek immediate gratification of all needs, wants,
and urges. In other words, the pleasure principle strives to
fulfill our most basic and primitive urges, including hunger,
thirst, anger, and sex. This behavior is animalistic (because
animals do the same things, and because these things are
done without much thought).
I want to
punch
somebody!
I want food
right now!

7. The “Ego”
The ego is the decision-making part of the mind. It uses
reason and logic, and tries to get the unrealistic id to
cooperate in a society that has rules and boundaries.
Like the id, the ego seeks pleasure and avoids pain, but
unlike the id, the ego uses the reality principle to find a
more realistic strategy to obtain pleasure.
If I hurt my friend, I might go to jail
for physical assault. I need to punish
her in a more socially acceptable
way - I’ll stop talking to her and
unfriend her on Facebook.
!

8. The Reality Principle
The the reality principle strives to satisfy the id's desires in
realistic and socially appropriate ways.The reality principle
logically weighs the costs and benefits of an action before
deciding to act upon or abandon an impulse.
I’m hungry, but I
can’t grab the
food off of
someone else’s
plate: they will
yell at me. I
should ask
someone to
give me food
instead…
I have the urge
to cut people
up into tiny
pieces, but, I’ll
go to jail. I
should become
a surgeon
instead of being
a serial killer…

9. The “Superego”
The superego is the “conscience” of a person: it is the voice
that incorporates the values and morals which are learned
from one's parents and society. It tries to persuade the id
and ego to turn to moral goals rather than seeking pleasure.
The superego makes you feel guilt when you fall short of
the good person you want to be.
Forgiveness is important. Instead of
trying to punish my friend, I should
forgive her and talk to her so we
can save our friendship.This is the
mature thing to do.

10. The “Superego”
The superego is like your moral conscience, but Freud also
considered the superego to be like a scolding parent who
lives in your head.This parent is always angry when you
don’t live up to being a good person, and feels disappointed
in you when you do bad things.
Conscience

11. Id, Ego, & Superego Summary
Id
The instinctual part of the mind that responds
immediately to wants and desires.The id is chaotic
and animal-like, seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.
Ego
The ego is the decision-making part of the mind. It
also seeks pleasure, but uses reason and logic to do
so. It tries to get the unrealistic id to cooperate in a
society bound by laws and social norms.
Superego
The voice that incorporates the values and morals
which are learned from one's parents and society. It
tries to persuade the id and ego to turn to moral
goals rather than seeking pleasure.

12. How does Freud see motivation?
The desires of
the ID are the
source of all
human
motivation.
The superego is a
force that
represses the ID,
motivating us to be
a “good person”
Ego

13. Childhood Experiences
Freud believed that when
children are born, their minds
are entirely “id.” As they try
and fail things, learning what
is acceptable in society, they
develop an “ego” and a
“superego.” The superego
develops as children learn
the values of their parents
and gain a moral
understanding of the world.

14. Assignment
Create an illustration in which id, ego, and superego are arguing
about how to behave. See specific instructions on the class website.
Let’s kill that guy
who always takes
our parking spot!
That might ruin our life. Let’s
kill small animals instead. No
one will care about that.
How about we not
kill anything!
Id
Ego
Supereg

15. Assignment
Create an illustration in which id, ego, and superego are arguing
about how to behave. See specific instructions on the class website.
I want money!
power! fame!
Raaahhhhrrrr! I can
do whatever I want!
I want those things too, but I
need to avoid saying stupid
things that offend people. I
need to make people think I
am a good person.
I don’t really believe that
money, power, and fame
are things leaders should
care about. Leaders
should care about
citizens…
Id Ego Superego