30 Must-Read Books for Psychologists

1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a self-help book.

2. The book outlines eight habits for personal and professional effectiveness.

3. The first habit is «Be Proactive.»

4. The book recommends prioritizing tasks based on urgency alone.

5. The fourth habit is «Think Win-Win.»

6. The book suggests that it is more important to be understood than to understand others.

7. The seventh habit is «Sharpen the Saw.»

8. The book has sold less than 10 million copies worldwide.

9. The book has been translated into over 40 languages.

10. The book has had no significant impact on the business world.

UNIT 4

The Ego and the Id by Sigmund Freud (1923)

Key Ideas:

1. The Three-Part Model of the Psyche:

Freud proposed that the human psyche is divided into three distinct structures:

Id: The Id is the primal, instinctual part of the personality. It is driven by the pleasure principle, seeking instant gratification of basic needs and desires. The Id operates on the primary process, which is illogical and irrational.

Ego: The Ego is the mediator between the Id and the external world. It balances the demands of the Id with the constraints of reality and the moral code. The Ego operates on the secondary process, which is logical and rational.

Superego: The Superego is the moral conscience, internalizing societal values and ethical principles. It strives for perfection and punishes the Ego for transgressions.

2. The Ego as Mediator:

Freud’s most significant contribution in this book is his detailed exploration of the Ego’s role as a mediator between the Id and Superego. The Ego constantly juggles the demands of the Id’s pleasure-seeking impulses with the Superego’s moral code. It must find ways to satisfy the Id’s desires while also adhering to the Superego’s moral standards. This balancing act can lead to anxiety and conflict, as the Ego struggles to maintain equilibrium.

3. Defense Mechanisms:

When the Ego is unable to resolve the conflict between the Id and Superego, it employs defense mechanisms to protect itself from anxiety. These defense mechanisms are unconscious mental processes that distort or block threatening thoughts and feelings. Some common defense mechanisms include:

Repression: Unconsciously burying threatening thoughts and feelings.

Projection: Attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts and feelings to others.

Rationalization: Providing logical explanations for irrational behavior.

4. The Oedipus Complex:

Freud believed that the Oedipus complex plays a crucial role in the development of the Superego. The Oedipus complex is a boy’s unconscious desire to possess his mother and kill his father, who he sees as a rival for his mother’s affections. This complex is eventually resolved through identification with the father, leading to the formation of the Superego.

5. The Death Drive:

Freud also introduced the concept of the death drive in this book. The death drive is an unconscious force that compels individuals towards self-destruction and aggression. Freud believed that the death drive is in constant conflict with the life instincts (Eros).

Best Quotes from the Book:

«The ego is… the mediator between the id and the external world.»

«The id knows no values, no good or evil, no morality.»

«The superego… is the heir to the Oedipus complex.»

Criticism:

Freud’s theory is based largely on clinical observations rather than empirical evidence.

His overemphasis on the role of childhood experience has been challenged by later research.

The theory is reductionist, attributing all behavior to unconscious drives.

Influence:

«The Ego and the Id» had a profound impact on psychology, shaping the field of psychoanalytic theory and therapy. It introduced the concept of three distinct psychic structures (Id, Ego, Superego), which became foundational in understanding human behavior.

Interesting Facts:

The book was originally published in German as «Das Ich und das Es.»

Freud wrote it at the age of 67, after suffering from throat cancer.

The three-part model of the psyche is often represented as three overlapping circles: Id, Ego, and Superego.

WORDLIST:

human psyche – человеческая психика

primal, instinctual part of the personality – изначальная, инстинктивная часть личности

pleasure principle – принцип удовольствия

instant gratification – мгновенное удовлетворение

basic needs and desires – основные потребности и желания

external world – внешний мир