Which theory describes personality as the interaction of Id, Ego, and Superego?

• A. Behaviorism
• B. Humanistic
• C. Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Theory
• D. Social-Cognitive

Answer: (C)

Freud's theory explains personality as the interaction of three parts: the Id, the Ego, and the Superego. The Id drives instinctual desires and seeks immediate gratification, the Ego mediates between those urges and reality, and the Superego internalizes morals and ideals to judge actions. The ongoing conflicts among these parts shape thoughts, feelings, and behavior, with the ego using defense mechanisms to manage anxiety and keep behavior in a socially acceptable range. This perspective specifically centers on unconscious processes and internal conflict, setting it apart from other approaches. By contrast, behaviorism focuses on observable actions and learning, humanistic theory emphasizes self-actualization and subjective experience, and social-cognitive theory stresses learning through observation and cognitive factors. The distinctive trio of Id, Ego, and Superego is why this option best captures how personality is organized and expressed.