As a child Dan loved to prance around the neighborhood wearing silly outfits. As he got older he realized that he couldn't continue that kind of behavior unless he found some way for it to be viewed as more socially acceptable. Having realized this Dan decided to pursue a career as a circus clown. According to Freud Dan's _____, which operates on the _____ principle, is responsible for finding a socially acceptable outlet for his desire to run around wearing silly outfits.

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According to Freud's theory of personality, the ego operates on the reality principle, which helps individuals find socially acceptable ways to fulfill their desires. In this scenario, Dan's ego helped him find a socially acceptable outlet for his desire to wear silly outfits by pursuing a career as a circus clown. The id operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of desires, while the superego operates on the morality principle, representing the internalized moral standards of society. Defense mechanisms such as denial are unconscious strategies used by the ego to cope with anxiety or discomfort.

As a Child Dan Loved to Prance Around the Neighborhood