The psychological nature of conscience in Freudian theory
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Abstract
This dissertation attempts to investigate the psychological nature of the conscience in Freudian theory and evaluate it in the light of certain neo-Freudian and non-Freudian findings. Special attention is given to the original work of Sigmund Freud and particular emphasis is placed on his concept of the super-ego, In psychological literature conscience is generally referred to as the super-ego.
For Freud, the super-ego comes into being through the psychic processes of repression, identification and introjection. Its central task is that of playing the role within the personality once occupied by the parental or other authorities. The super-ego tends to accent the harshness, severity and restrictiveness of the parents far more than their love and kindness. Other Freudians, notably Bergler, Flugel, Klein and Jones expand Freud's early theories of conscience as a stern and punitive tendency in personality. They see the ideal self-image as of little value and rooted in unrealistic expectations [TRUNCATED]
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University
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