superego
superego
UK[ˌsuːpərˈiːɡəʊ]US[ˌsuːpərˈiːɡoʊ]
n
the part of a person's mind that acts as a self-critical conscience, reflecting social standards learned from parents and teachers.
n
(in psychoanalytic theory) the component of the personality that represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment (the conscience) and for future aspirations.
Morpheme Breakdown
super
ego
super
above, over
ego
i, self
Etymology
the term 'superego' is a modern latin formation, coined by sigmund freud in his psychoanalytic theory. it directly combines the latin prefix 'super-' (meaning "above, over") with the latin noun 'ego' (meaning "i" or "self"). the construction follows a clear spatial metaphor: the superego is conceptualized as an authority 'above' the self or the ego. this term entered english in the early 20th century as a direct translation of freud's german term 'Über-Ich', where 'Über' similarly means "over" or "above", solidifying its meaning as the part of the psyche that oversees and judges the ego's actions.
Analysis
Structure: super (above, over) + ego (i, self)
super (latin origin, meaning "above, over", a prefix indicating position or degree). ego (latin origin, meaning "i, self", a noun-forming element).
Examples
his superego was so strict that he felt guilty for even minor mistakes.
the conflict between her impulsive desires and her moralistic superego caused her great anxiety.
freud proposed that the superego develops during childhood through the internalization of parental and societal rules.