Jean was at the mall with her family. She tried on a pair of shoes she really wanted. Her parents told her that they could not afford the shoes and walked out of the store. For a moment, Jean thought of running out of the store with the shoes on, but her parents had taught her at a very young age that stealing was wrong. A split-second after thinking about stealing the shoes, Jean began to feel incredibly guilty about even having the thought. Which part of Jean's personality squelched her desire to steal the shoes?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The superego is the part of the personality that provides the conscience and moral standards. In this scenario, Jean's guilt and resistance to stealing the shoes are indicative of her superego at work, inhibiting her desires and actions that conflict with her internalized ethical standards. The id is the part of the personality driven by primal urges and impulses, while the ego serves to balance the demands of the id and superego. The Oedipus complex refers to a psychoanalytic theory related to a child's subconscious desires and conflicts towards their parent of the opposite sex.

Jean Was at the Mall with Her Family