Superego (Noun)
Meaning
(psychoanalysis) that part of the unconscious mind that acts as a conscience.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The psychologist's understanding of the patient's behavior was shaped by his concept of the id, ego, and superego as forces competing within the mind.
- In Freudian theory, the superego plays a key role in regulating the emotions and directing the ego towards good behavior.
- As an adult, she struggled with feelings of guilt and shame as her superego clashed with the instinctual desires of her id.
- He credited his strict upbringing and moral education with helping to develop a strong superego that guided his actions.
- According to psychoanalytic theory, a child's development of a superego occurs during the phallic stage when they first begin to internalize parental and social norms.