Ego Strength

In psychology meaning of ego is not same as we take in day to day life i.e. pride, loftiness or something equal to arrogant attitude. According to Sigmund Freud, human personality consists of three elements: the id, ego and superego. Id means all instinctual drives, primal, biological urges and desires such as hunger, sex, anger and seeking immediate gratification. It is assumed that Id works on pleasure principle and wants to satisfy its impulses at any cost. On the other hand superego consists of internalized standards and rules that we acquire from our parents, family, society and culture. It is that part of our personality which pressurizes our Id and demand to behave morally.

Finally ego is that component of personality which acts as buffer between Id and superego. It mediates between inhibited urges and desires and unrealistic heavy demands of morality. In other words ego regulate our uncontrolled impulses at the one end and undue pressures of standards and norms on the other end and let the id to satisfy its needs in an realistic way. Ego works on reality principle.

Thus ego strength is the ability of the ego to deal effectively with both demands of primitive instinctual drives (id) and unrealistic moral values (superego). Those with little ego strength are unable to restrict or regulate their impulses thus always give preference to self pleasure and interests. They show characteristics of a narcissistic personality. On the other hand persons with very high ego strength are too rigid, perfectionist, inflexible and carry very conservative and restrictive attitude. They always suppress their impulses and generally having feeling of guilt in their mind. These individuals are prone of high anxiety and obsessive compulsive features.