... needs; i.e. hunger, thirst, sexual arousal, etc. The super-ego, by contrasts, represents the internalised rules of society by which we live; laws, moral codes, social pressures, etc. According to Freud, the id and the super-ego are often in conflict, our basic needs as animals and opportunities for satisfying them being at odds with the standards by which we live. This conflict creates anxiety and, if left unresolved, is the cause of all mental illness. third mental structure, the ego, which serves as an intermediary between the id and the super-ego, devising ways of behaviour that reduce potential conflict. It is the interplay between these three "structures" that gives psychodynamic theory its name. To illustrate this structure in operation, imagine you are very hungry and are in a supermarket, surrounded by all your favourite foods. Freud's main contribution to motivational research is that he presents us with a model that accommodates ...

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