a theory founded by Sigmund Freud (1856–1939), in which psychological conflict is considered as the core of a person’s internal dynamics. According to Freud, man experiences constant tension between the various psychological forces that make up his personality, and these forces struggle for expression and realization in the sphere of his consciousness and unconscious. Psychological conflict is a natural result of the interaction of the three main components of the human personality: 1) Id: represents basic instincts and innate drives, such as thirst for food, sex, and aggression. It operates according to the pleasure principle, without regard to reality or morality.
2) Ego: acts as an intermediary between the demands of the id and the limitations of reality. It acts according to the principle of reality, seeking to satisfy desires in a socially and psychologically acceptable way.
3) The superego: represents the inner conscience or acquired moral and social standards and imposes restrictions on a person’s behavior in accordance with values and ideals.