Introduction:

Libido is a term used in psychoanalytic theory to describe the energy created by the survival and sexual instincts. According to Sigmund Freud, the libido is part of the id and is the driving force of all behavior. While the term "libido" has taken on an overtly sexual meaning in today's world, to Freud, it represented all psychic energy and not just sexual energy.

Freudian Views of the Libido:

Freud believed that the id was the only part of personality present from birth. The id, he suggested, was a reservoir of unconscious, primal energy. The id seeks pleasure and demands the immediate satisfaction of its desires. It is the id that serves as the source of our wants and impulses.

The Libido and the Id

How does the libido function in the id? The id is controlled by what Freud termed the pleasure principle. Essentially, the id tries to direct all of the body's actions and processes to achieve the greatest amount of pleasure possible. Because the id is almost entirely unconscious, people are not even aware of many of these urges .The id demands immediate gratification of even our most basic urges. If the id had its way, you would take what you want, when you want, no matter the situation. Obviously, this would cause some serious problems. Our wants and desires are not always appropriate, and acting on them could have serious repercussions.

The Influence of the Ego

So, what stops people from simply acting upon their most basic instincts and desires? The ego is the part of personality charged with harnessing the id's libidinal energy and making sure that these urges are expressed in acceptable ways. It's governed by the reality principle, which is focused on helping the person achieve their goals in ways that are realistic and acceptable. So, while the libidinal desires of the id might tell you to grab that donut off of the store shelf and start eating it immediately, the ego reigns in this impulse. Instead, you take the socially acceptable actions of placing the donuts in your cart, paying for them at the register, and taking them home before you finally give in to your urge to eat the tasty treat.

The Role of the Superego

Adding a further complication to this process is the superego . The superego is the part of the personality that involves the ideals and morals internalized from parents, authority figures, and society. The ego must mediate between the basic demands created by the libido as well as the idealistic standards imposed by the superego. The Role of the Id, Ego, and Superego