what is superego in psychology

In psychoanalytic theory, the superego is one of the three components of the psyche, along with the id and the ego, as defined by Sigmund Freuds structural model of the psyche. The superego is the ethical component of the personality and provides the moral standards by which the ego operates. It develops during the first five years of life in response to parental punishment and approval, as a result of the childs internalization of their parents moral standards. The superego incorporates the values and morals of society, which are learned from ones parents and others, and it aims for perfection. It is the part of the personality structure, mainly but not entirely unconscious, that includes the individuals ego ideals, spiritual goals, and the psychic agency, commonly called "conscience," that criticizes and prohibits the expression of drives, fantasies, feelings, and actions. The superegos function is to control the ids impulses, especially those which society forbids, such as sex and aggression, and it persuades the ego to turn to moralistic goals rather than simply realistic ones. Violation of the superegos standards results in feelings of guilt or anxiety and a need to atone for ones actions.