A boy thinks about stealing a candy bar from the store because he is hungry. He is prevented from doing so because of the possible consequences of getting caught, so he decides to go home and eat instead. In Freud's view, the boy's ________, operating under the ________, led to his decision to postpone eating until he got home.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The boy's ego, operating under the reality principle, led to his decision. The ego considers the real-world consequences of actions, guiding the boy to a more acceptable solution to his hunger.  The ego arbitrates between the id, which wants the candy, and the superego, which knows it is wrong to steal, and then comes to a realistic conclusion that going home is the most reasonable choice.

A Boy Thinks About Stealing a Candy Bar from the Store