Freud’s Explanation of Aggression
Key Words:
The Unconscious and Aggression:
Unconscious - the part of the mind
Freud described the unconscious using the metaphor of
that we are unaware of but which
the iceberg - the unconscious is the largest part, below
continues to direct much of our
the surface of the water.
behaviour.
It is not a passive state but an active processor,
Id - the part of the personality
requiring lots of psychic energy to keep them
driven by the pleasure principle,
unconscious.
which functions only in the
One of the key influences of the unconscious is its role
unconscious and is made up of selfish
as the origin of powerful aggressive instincts.
aggressive instincts that demand
gratification.
Ego - the ‘reality check’ that
balances the conflicting demands of
the id and the superego. Personality and Aggression:
Superego - the moralistic part of the The id and the pleasure principle:
personality which represents the Id exists from birth and is the most primitive
ideal self - how we ought to be. element contained by the unconscious mind.
Catharsis - the process of realising Contains instincts, impulses and drives that are
pent-up psychic energy. socially unacceptable.
It obeys pleasure principle - demands immediate
gratification of desires.
As we cannot eradicate it, we should instead direct
it.
The ego and the reality principle:
Catharsis and Aggression:
Ego is logical, rational and conscious.
Aggression is an instinctive drive
Reality principle - the interface between unrealistic
that can be satisfied through
desires of the id and social reality.
catharsis.
The ego satisfies the id by indirectly fulfilling them
Expressing aggression releases
through fantasises.
psychic energy and reduces the
The ego has no moral sense - it doesn’t judge the it
aggressive drive and makes further
but tries to control the urges.
aggression unlikely.
The superego:
Preventing catharsis creates a build-
Fulfils the ‘moral’ role that develops later, at the
up of energy which will eventually
age of around 5 to 6.
produces a destructive aggressive
Represents our conscious and moral sense of right
outbursts directed either inwards or
and wrong.
outwards.
Because aggression is destructive, the superego
Displacement - aggression towards
opposes the id’s aggressive drive through guilt and
one person is redirected against a
shame when we fail to meet the highest moral
less powerful substitute.
standards.
Observing others behaving
The superego is just as irrational and punishing in
aggressively.
its demands as the id.
Key Words:
The Unconscious and Aggression:
Unconscious - the part of the mind
Freud described the unconscious using the metaphor of
that we are unaware of but which
the iceberg - the unconscious is the largest part, below
continues to direct much of our
the surface of the water.
behaviour.
It is not a passive state but an active processor,
Id - the part of the personality
requiring lots of psychic energy to keep them
driven by the pleasure principle,
unconscious.
which functions only in the
One of the key influences of the unconscious is its role
unconscious and is made up of selfish
as the origin of powerful aggressive instincts.
aggressive instincts that demand
gratification.
Ego - the ‘reality check’ that
balances the conflicting demands of
the id and the superego. Personality and Aggression:
Superego - the moralistic part of the The id and the pleasure principle:
personality which represents the Id exists from birth and is the most primitive
ideal self - how we ought to be. element contained by the unconscious mind.
Catharsis - the process of realising Contains instincts, impulses and drives that are
pent-up psychic energy. socially unacceptable.
It obeys pleasure principle - demands immediate
gratification of desires.
As we cannot eradicate it, we should instead direct
it.
The ego and the reality principle:
Catharsis and Aggression:
Ego is logical, rational and conscious.
Aggression is an instinctive drive
Reality principle - the interface between unrealistic
that can be satisfied through
desires of the id and social reality.
catharsis.
The ego satisfies the id by indirectly fulfilling them
Expressing aggression releases
through fantasises.
psychic energy and reduces the
The ego has no moral sense - it doesn’t judge the it
aggressive drive and makes further
but tries to control the urges.
aggression unlikely.
The superego:
Preventing catharsis creates a build-
Fulfils the ‘moral’ role that develops later, at the
up of energy which will eventually
age of around 5 to 6.
produces a destructive aggressive
Represents our conscious and moral sense of right
outbursts directed either inwards or
and wrong.
outwards.
Because aggression is destructive, the superego
Displacement - aggression towards
opposes the id’s aggressive drive through guilt and
one person is redirected against a
shame when we fail to meet the highest moral
less powerful substitute.
standards.
Observing others behaving
The superego is just as irrational and punishing in
aggressively.
its demands as the id.
