If you've got a devil on one shoulder telling you to do something "naughty," and an angel on the other urging you to remain upright and moral, then the angel, according to Freud, would represent the __________.

Question

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Freud believed that the human psyche consisted of three parts: the id, the ego, and the superego. The id is the primitive, instinctual part that operates on the pleasure principle, seeking instant gratification of our desires. The superego, on the other hand, represents our moral and ethical standards, learned from society and authority figures such as parents. Therefore, the angel on our shoulder, advocating moral behavior, would represent the superego.

If You've Got a Devil on One Shoulder Telling You