The Ego acts according to the reality principle and holds psychic functions such as judgment, tolerance, reality testing, control, planning, defense, synthesis of information, intellectual functioning, and memory, which help us to make sense of our thoughts and the world around us. The Superego can be thought of as a type of conscience which punishes misbehavior with feelings of guilt, controlling our sense of right and wrong. Constituents of the Superego are the individual’s Ego ideals, spiritual goals, and the psychic agency (commonly called “conscience”) which criticizes and prohibits one’s drives, fantasies, feelings, and actions. It comprises the organized part of the personality structure, and is mainly but not entirely unconscious. The Superego works in contradiction to the Id. It is unconscious, selfish, childish and present from birth. Due to the instinctual quality of the Id, it is impulsive and often unaware of the implications of actions. The Id acts in accordance with the pleasure principle, in that it avoids pain and seeks pleasure. These are typically instinctual, such as hunger, thirst, and the drive for sex (libido). The Id is the aspect of personality that is driven by internal and basic drives and needs. On the other hand, the Superego was developed after five years of development of the ego.The Id, Ego and superego are the three parts of the psychic apparatus defined in Sigmund Freud’s structural model of the psyche they are functions of the mind.

The development of ego took place after Id was developed at three years of age.

On the other hand, the Superego is generalized as conscience. However, the relationship between the Superego and Id is contradictory.

The relationship between ego and Id is a pleasing one where the ego tries a lot to control the Id.

On the contrary, the Superego comprises both ego and id and emphasizes on consequences of the action.

The ego is responsible for maintaining a balance between reality, Id and Superego.

On the other hand, the Superego nearly functions the same as the ego, but it also emphasizes other rules and norms while dealing with a certain action by a man and its consequences.

Ego puts more emphasis on the consequences of certain actions and the long term benefits.

On the other hand, the Superego is the moralising part of the psyche, which is the last component and also critical by characteristic.

Ego refers to that part of the psyche, which is a controlling component and also realistic.

Main Differences Between Ego and Superego

However, the control is subjected to reality and environmental factors.

Unlike the Id, the ego usually keeps control of the Id. Id apart the mind or psyche, which seeks fantasies, Passion, impulses and also the rest of human instincts. According to the principle of reality, ego functions. However, the ego is generally considered as a rational and organised part of the brain or model. The ego is a reality-oriented part of the model. Superego was developed after five years of development of the ego. The development of ego took place after Id was developed at three years of age. The superego is generalized as conscience. Pleasing one where the ego tries a lot to control the Id. It comprises of both ego and id and emphasizes the consequences of the action. Superego is the moralising and critical part of the psyche, which is the last component.Ĭonsequences of certain actions, long term benefits.įunctions the same as ego, rules and norms while dealing with a certain action by a man and its consequences.īalance is maintained between reality, Id and Superego. Comparison Table Parameters of ComparisonĮgo refers to that part of the psyche, which is realistic and the controlling component. Superego was developed after five years of the development of the ego. The relation between the Superego and Id can be considered as contradictory. It also emphasizes on consequences of an action.

Superego vs ego