superego

American  

[soo-per-ee-goh, -eg-oh] / ˌsu pərˈi goʊ, -ˈɛg oʊ /

noun

Psychoanalysis.

plural

superegos

1. the part of the personality representing the conscience, formed in early life by internalization of the standards of parents and other models of behavior.

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superego British  

/ -ˈɛɡəʊ, ˌsuːpərˈiːɡəʊ /

noun

1. psychoanal that part of the unconscious mind that acts as a conscience for the ego, developing mainly from the relationship between a child and his parents See also id 1 ego

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superego Cultural  

1. In Freudian psychology, the part of the psyche that incorporates parental or community values and standards and acts as an inner check on behavior. The superego and ego, responding to social demands, are often in conflict with the primitive impulses of the id.

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Etymology

Origin of superego

1890–95; translation of German Über-Ich (Freud); super-, ego

Explanation

In psychoanalysis, the superego is the part of a person's mind that helps keep the id in check, guiding the person to follow learned rules rather than impulses. Sigmund Freud invented the terms ego, id, and superego when he developed his theories of psychoanalysis. They represent three parts of the human psyche, or mind. The superego is where morals and conscience come from, according to Freud. Your superego comes from what you've learned from parents, teachers, and other adults in your life. The word superego is the closest literal translation from the original German über-Ich.

Example Sentences

As I previously stated, it's his id, his ego and his superego.

From Salon • Nov. 6, 2023

They represent a fundamental paradox of the television and motion picture industry: the smooth, reflective surface of the American superego, set at an increasingly uncomfortable angle against the people who create it.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2023

When we torture ourselves with self-recrimination or simply feel guilty for not living up to our aspirations, it’s the superego at work.

From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2023

If Elon Musk’s tweets are pure lizard-brain id, Bezos’ tweets are all superego — my guy probably workshops them, which is why they’re DOA, emotionally.

From The Verge • May 16, 2022

The latter includes all our defence mechanisms and most of the superego.

From Terrorists and Freedom Fighters by Vaknin, Samuel

Related Words

• shame