Theory of Personality (D564) Practice Exam 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Freud's structural model of personality consists of three key components: the id, ego, and superego. This model is fundamental to understanding Freud's theory of how personality functions and develops.

The id is the primal, instinctual part of the personality that operates based on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of desires and needs. It is unconscious and includes our basic biological urges.

The ego emerges to mediate between the desires of the id and the demands of reality. It operates on the reality principle, striving to satisfy the id’s desires in a socially acceptable manner while also taking into account the constraints of the external world. The ego is primarily conscious, but it also includes unconscious elements.

The superego is the moral component of personality, representing internalized societal and parental standards. It strives for perfection, judging our actions and producing feelings of guilt or pride based on our adherence to these moral standards. The superego operates at both conscious and unconscious levels.

Together, these three components provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the complexities of human behavior, motivation, and personality development according to Freudian theory.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect Freud's structural model. The reference to consciousness in one choice involves different psychic levels discussed