What Are Freud's Three Levels Of Awareness

955 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Psychoanalytic theory evaluation

According to Freud, there are three levels of awareness: conscious, preconscious, and unconscious. The unconscious mind is, as stated by Professor Smardan in class, like a file cabinet. It stores everything that is suppressed by the mind. The preconscious mind consists of thoughts that are unconscious, but can still be easily recalled. Lastly, the conscious mind is the state of being fully aware of the present moment. Freud also suggested that these three levels of awareness are linked to the Id, superego, and ego, which make up the personality. These three structures operate based off of unconscious, preconscious, and unconscious levels. Unconscious The unconscious mind is developed at a very young age. It is programmed by parents, teachers, caregivers, and other important figures from birth to around age 6. The unconscious mind is the "other" person within, meaning it is not really what we perceive ourselves as. When people get upset it …show more content…

"Freud proposed 3 systems of personality, each existing at one or more of the levels of conscious awareness." (Course Reader: Chapter 13/Section 1A, 2015) The Id is completely unconscious, the ego is for the most part conscious, and the superego both conscious and unconscious. Id and superego are opposites, the Id representing the "devil", which operates according to the pleasure principle, and the superego, representing the "angel", operates according to the morality principle. The id demands pleasure, while the superego demands morals, often bringing them conflict. Meanwhile the ego becomes the mediator by balancing the id and the superego. It maintains stability by pushing away anxiety. It is the realistic part of the personality. "This constant state of conflict is Freud's view of how personality works." (Course Reader: Chapter 13/Section 1B, 2015). He called this system the Mental

Show More
Related

  • Comparing Freud And Jung's Personality Theories

    682 Words  | 2 Pages

    Primarily, one of the dominant and fundamental theoretical variances concerning Freud and Jung’s personality theories was that relating to their opposing notions regarding the unconscious human mind. Firstly, Freud understood that the centre of ones inhibited beliefs and distressing recollections was found in the unconscious mind. Freud stated that the human mind focuses on three constructs: namely the id, the ego and the super ego. He claimed that the id shaped ones unconscious energy. Freud said that it is not limited by ethics and morals, but as an alternative simply aims to fulfil ones desires. The id strives to keep with the “pleasure principle, which can be understood as a demand to take care of needs immediately.” (Boere) The next unconscious

    Read More

  • Jung Unconscious Mind Analysis

    644 Words  | 2 Pages

    Freud’s understanding of the unconscious is organized into three echelons: the conscious mind, the preconscious mind and the unconscious mind. The conscious mind involves everything we are cognizant of. The preconscious mind signifies regular recollections. The unconscious mind contains emotions, reflections, memoirs and compulsions that are unknown to our conscious perception. Along with the conscious, the preconscious and the unconscious, there are the three additional elements to Freud’s structure of personality: the id, ego and superego. Unlike Freud, Jung had a more optimistic theory of the unconscious.

    Read More

  • The Archetype And The Collective Unconscious

    1265 Words  | 3 Pages

    The unconscious mind can be explained in various ways and can take on various attributes. Carl Jung the author of “The Archetype and the Collective Unconscious,” defines unconsciousness as the first reactions and interactions a person endeavors. Several Physicists believe that the unconscious mind acts separately from our voluntary thinking. Scientist believes that understanding the unconscious mind is key to determining what type of archetype a person may have or develop. Experiments such as, reaction to stimuli, have lead cognitive psychiatrist to determine the strength of the unaware and involuntary mind. In addition, many social physicists have also believed that the unconscious mind is unaware of it actions and that the unconscious part of our brain can sometimes be focused on several signs that our conscious self can’t see.

    Read More

  • Freud And Freud's Theory Of Personality And Reality

    1289 Words  | 3 Pages

    Freud defines the conscious mind as the part that has recent memories of experience and that can be remembered. The unconscious mind being the one that stores experience that an individual wishes to forget. He further identifies three levels of the unconscious mind that play a role in personality. The id, this is the first level that deals with the pleasure principle. I view the id as an individual’s fantasy. The super ego, being the morality principle. I think that the super ego does not play much of a role in personality but can be viewed as the neutral point. The ego, this is the level that deals with the reality principle. I would label this part of the brain as the reality. I also believe that the ego plays an important role in helping distinguish the reality that we live in from the fantasy that we wish to live in. An example to further explain this is the photography professions. A photographer could be a person that is obsessed with sexual activities as to try and satisfy their sexual fantasies. This individual find appropriate ways to satisfy their fantasies through the artistic work that they do for example, a nude photo shoot, of which is seen as appropriate in other

    Read More

  • Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development Applied to "Finding Nemo"

    1749 Words  | 4 Pages

    In all the psychology of the personality is difficult to understand, because trying to read what someone is thinking about you and your personality is a tough process. This was roughly and explanation into the view of Freud’s view of the id, ego, and superego and some of the psychoanalysis stages that come in the crazy world and studies of Sigmund Freud. Even though his views are not popular today some people still research them and think to themselves he might not be as weird as people told me he was.

    Read More

  • The Ego and the Id

    1504 Words  | 4 Pages

    Over the years, people have wondered what goes on in a person's mind that guides them to meet their needs. Sigmund Freud developed a system of personality that boldly attempts to explain the course of personality and what was it origins. Freud theory assumes that one's personality is shaped and some powerful inner forces motivate one's behavior. According to Freud, personality differences commence from the different ways in which people deal with their underlying drives. By picturing a continuing battle between antagonistic parts of personality, Freud was able to develop three systems that make up the total personality. The three systems of personality are the id, ego, and the superego. If the three systems work together in harmony and unite together to form one complete organization, it enables one to create a positive transaction with the environment. If the systems are fighting with each other, one is said to be dissatisfied with himself or the world. By examining the ego, the id, and the superego, one should see how these three systems of personality play an important role in the development of one's personality. In doing so one should understand what conscious and unconscious, and the functions of the id, ego, and superego.

    Read More

  • The Advantages And Disadvantages Of The Psychodynamic Theory

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    The psychodynamic theory encompasses both Freud and Erikson. Freud believed the three components of personality were the id, the ego, and the superego. The id is responsible for all needs and urges, while the superego for ideals and moral. The ego moderates between the demands of the id, the superego, and reality. However, Erikson believed that personality progressed through a series of stages, with certain conflicts arising at each stage. Success in any stage depended upon successfully overcoming these conflicts. The advantage to psychodynamic is that it encompasses the individual, meaning that the theory looks at personality from childhood all the way into adulthood. The disadvantages of this theory are that it cannot be tested validly. Therefore,

    Read More

  • A Comparison of the Main Approaches to Personality Psychology

    2250 Words  | 5 Pages

    The basis of this approach is that psychological factors play a major role in determining behaviour and shaping personality. Freud argued that personality is composed of three major systems the id, the ego, and the superego. The id (biological part of personality) is present at birth and consists of inherited instincts and all psychological energies. The id operates according to the pleasure principle, seeking to reduce tension, avoid pain and obtain pleasure. The ego (executive part of personality) is conscious part of the mind, the “real” us.

    Read More

  • The Mysteries Behind Out Unconscious Mind

    1359 Words  | 3 Pages

    In general we all know that the unconscious mind consists of the thoughts in the mind that occur automatically, and include thought processes, memory, affect, and motivation but let me show you the power behind it these automatic thoughts.

    Read More

  • Sigmund Freud Versus Albert Ellis

    981 Words  | 2 Pages

    He believed everyone is born with the id. All humans when they are babies, according to Freud, are pleasure seeking and concerned with having their needs met. This is the original or unconscious personality. The ego is where decision-making occurs, judgments are made and memory is stored. Lastly, the superego contains the individual’s values, beliefs, and morals, which they get from their parents. According to Freud, women get their morals and beliefs from their mothers and men get it from their fathers. He also believes that...

    Read More

  • Weakness in Sigmound Freud’s Theories

    787 Words  | 2 Pages

    The psychodynamic theory focuses on the unconscious mind. Freud’s credence is that different mental forces operate in the mind. The unconscious mind can be described as being like an iceberg. The tip of the iceberg represents the part of the mind that is conscious, everyday thoughts. The iceberg just below the water’s surface represents the pre conscious, thoughts and information that can be retrieved easily. And finally the base of the iceberg is the unconscious part of the mind where fears, traumas and bad experiences are contained, almost impossible to retrieve.

    Read More

  • Freud and Aristotle’s Theories of Human Nature

    1307 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Psychological - or more strictly speaking, psychoanalytic -investigation shows that the deepest essence of human nature, which are similar in all men and which aim at the satisfaction of certain needs... [are] self-preservation, aggression, need for love, and the impulse to attain pleasure and avoid pain...” At its simplest form, this quote perfectly explains Sigmund Freud’s theory on human nature. Human beings, according to Freud, are in a constant state of conflict within themselves; trying to satisfy their animalistic instincts, while also maintaining a socially appropriate life. Freud termed these animalistic tendencies that we have, the Id. The Id is essentially our unconscious mind, it is the part of us that has been there since the day we were born and is what drives our life’s needs and desires. The Id simply aims to satisfy our sexual or aggressive urges immediately, without taking into account any further implications. On the other hand, Freud used the term, the Superego, to describe man’s conscience and sense of morality. It is the Superego’s job to keep the Id in check by combatting the desire to satisfy urges with the feeling of guilt or anxiety. Finally, the Ego, is the conscious representation of the constant battle between the Superego and the Id. It must work to satisfy human’s instinctual tendencies while taking into account their conscience and doing what is rational and acceptable. Freud argues that these internal process that are constantly at work in our mind are what shape humans to do the things that they do. Thus, he believes, the goal of human nature is to satisfy our basic aggressive and sexual desires while adhering to cultural and social standards.

    Read More

  • Psychology: The Five Levels Of Consciousness

    864 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Consciousness is defined as everything of which we are aware at any given time - our thoughts, feelings, sensations, and perceptions of the external environment. Physiological researchers have returned to the study of consciousness, in examining physiological rhythms, sleep, and altered states of consciousness (changes in awareness produced by sleep, meditation, hypnosis, and drugs)” (Wood, 2011, 169). There are five levels of consciousness; Conscious (sensing, perceiving, and choosing), Preconscious (memories that we can access), Unconscious ( memories that we can not access), Non-conscious ( bodily functions without sensation), and Subconscious ( “inner child,” self image formed in early childhood).

    Read More

  • Sigmund Freud and Everyday Use

    851 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sigmund Freud is best known for his development and use of psychoanalysis. The theory of psychoanalysis focuses on the concept of how our unconscious thoughts, feelings, and emotions play an active role in our daily lives. The id, ego, and superego are the three mental zones that encompass our psyche. Each zone has a specific function: The id functions on the pleasure principle; the ego on the protection of the individual; and the superego on protection of society. The degree of which each zone has been developed can be broken down and then analyzed. These three zones can be visualized by imagining a pie cut into three slices.

    Read More

  • Carl Jung Personality Theory

    710 Words  | 2 Pages

    Carl Jung referred to a person's dormant personality of perceptions, thoughts, feelings and memories as the personal unconscious. Similar to Freud, he believed that many of an individual's thoughts and experiences are repressed and forgotten. However, very often those thoughts and emotions seek to expel from the memory bank and may thus present through

    Read More

More about What Are Freud's Three Levels Of Awareness

Open Document