A woman sets excessively high moral and ethical standards for herself. As a result, she constantly feels ashamed and guilty for making small mistakes and minor transgressions. Freud might say that
A) her id has become too powerful.
B) she has too much psychic energy fixated at the oral stage of development.
C) her ego has become too powerful.
D) her superego has become too powerful.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Freud's theory of personality includes the superego, the part of the psyche that internalizes society's moral standards and ideals. The superego operates on the morality principle and aims for perfection. If the superego becomes too powerful, it can lead to excessively high standards and a tendency towards self-blame and guilt for minor infractions. Therefore, the woman's excessive guilt and shame may suggest that her superego has become too powerful.

A Woman Sets Excessively High Moral and Ethical Standards for Herself