To achieve this, this paper first discusses the “ego” concept in psychoanalytic thinking and its relationship to the id. More specifically, the paper aims to: (a) develop novel theoretical insights by assessing the logical implications of an ego-drive account, and (b) synthesize these theoretical findings with object-relation approaches to address the dynamics of internal objects. Using theoretical and conceptual analysis, the broad aims of this paper are to contribute theoretical clarification and extension to the accounts of the id, ego, and superego and to then provide a synthesis of this account with object relations accounts that postulate multiple ego-structures and dynamic internal objects. For this reason, both conceptual and theoretical research is an indispensable tool for assessing psychoanalytic claims, both with respect to theoretical clarification and generating theoretical implications for empirical assessment (see Dreher, 2005 Leuzinger-Bohleber and Fischmann, 2006 Brakel, 2009, 2013 Boag, 2012). 75).ĭespite this, the importance of theoretical clarification cannot be over-stated since theory provides the major explanatory foundation for understanding clinical findings and therapeutic success in psychoanalysis. … represent an historical account of an adventurous explorer developing a system of concepts that changed and grew continuously and unevenly over a half-century of creative effort … left behind a trail of complex ideas unevenly developed and never integrated into a logical, systematic whole (p. In fact, anyone systematically reading Freud will likely agree with Madison’s (1956) observation that Freud’s writings: However, as is well-recognized, evaluating the complexity of Freudian theory is itself difficult, partly due to “unresolved contradictions in Freud’s writings” ( Shill, 2004, p. One possible common ground, however, is to return to Freud’s theory since a “very minimal version of Freudian theory is accepted by almost all who accept any version of psychoanalytic theory” ( Erwin, 1988, p. An added obstacle here, though, is that psychoanalytic schools of thought are diverse ( Wallerstein, 2005a, b), contributing to what is described as “theoretical chaos” ( Green, 2005, p. Accordingly, refining our understanding of psychoanalytic theory and concepts is essential for progress in psychoanalysis. While Freud’s position is based upon empirical observation, empirical evaluation of any theory also requires prior theoretical clarification. However, assessing any theory about the ego, id and superego is not straight-forward. Consequently, this position has radical implications for conceptualizing the id, ego, and superego, and personality structures in general. Furthermore, given that there are multiple instinctual drives, each person then consists of a multiplicity of knowers. Following clues from Freud’s writings concerning the “ego-instincts” (e.g., Freud, 1910), Maze’s position postulates that the knowing subjects within the individual are the instinctual drives. The first attempt to clearly articulate this position originates in the writings of Maze (1983, 1987, 1993) although antecedents can be seen in the writings of earlier authors (e.g., Passmore, 1935, p. However, an alternative, albeit less-recognized, school of thought proposes instead that it is the instinctual drives as knowers that constitute the ego. The most prominent post-Freudian position proposes that the ego is independent of the instinctual drives (e.g., Hartmann, 1950, 1958). The precise relationship between the id, ego, and instinctual drives remains an issue of dispute. Finally, the impact of psychological conflict and the significance of repression for understanding the nature of splits within the psyche are also discussed. This account is then extended to object-relations and the explanatory value of the ego-drive account is discussed in terms of the addressing the nature of ego-structures and the dynamic nature of internal objects. The nature of the “self” is developed in terms of identification and the possibility of multiple personalities is also established. Following on from Freud, the ego is viewed as a composite sub-set of the instinctual drives (ego-drives), whereas those drives cut off from expression form the id. Given that there are multiple drives, this position proposes that personality is constituted by multiple knowers. Based on Freud’s ego-instinct account, this position has developed into a school of thought which postulates that the drives act as knowers. While ego psychology views the ego as autonomous of the drives, a less well-known alternative position views the ego as constituted by the drives.
This paper addresses the relationship between the ego, id, and internal objects.
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