Ben watches his mother make chocolate-chip cookies and knows she does not want him to eat any of the cookies before dinner.He is seriously tempted to help himself to a cookie or two once his mother leaves the room but decides not to because it is not right to do so.Identify Ben's Freudian structure of personality at work in this situation.

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The superego is the part of the personality that represents a person's moral code and values. It strives to uphold moral standards and internalize a sense of right and wrong. Ben's decision not to eat the cookies shows that his superego is at work, as he is able to resist immediate gratification in favor of upholding his mother's rules and following his moral code. The ego, on the other hand, tries to satisfy the demands of the id in ways that are realistic and socially acceptable, and the id is the part of the personality that operates purely on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of desires and needs without consequences or restraint. As Ben is able to resist the temptation and choose not to eat the cookies before dinner, the superego is the most relevant structure in this situation.

Ben Watches His Mother Make Chocolate-Chip Cookies and Knows She