Which theory underpins the concept of id, ego, and superego?

• A. Psychoanalytic Theory
• B. Behavioral Theory
• C. Cognitive Theory
• D. Humanistic Theory

Answer: (A)

Freud’s structural model of personality is the key idea here, describing three interacting parts: the id, which drives basic urges and seeks immediate gratification; the ego, which mediates between those urges and reality; and the superego, which internalizes moral standards and judgments. This triadic framework is a defining feature of psychoanalytic theory, emphasizing unconscious motivations and internal conflict as shaping behavior. Other theories focus on different mechanisms—behavioral theory on conditioning and observable actions; cognitive theory on thinking processes and mental representations; humanistic theory on self-actualization and personal growth—rather than a three-part psychic structure. Because the concept of id, ego, and superego is central to psychoanalytic theory, that perspective best underpins it.