In Freud's psychodynamic theory, ego is to id as reality principle is to ________.

• A. conscious mind
• B. morality principle
• C. defense mechanism
• D. pleasure principle

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the key concepts in Freud's psychodynamic theory: the id, ego, and superego, along with their associated principles.
2. Recall that the id operates based on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of desires and impulses.
3. Recognize that the ego functions according to the reality principle, which mediates between the id's demands and the constraints of the real world.
4. Identify the analogy structure: ego is to id as reality principle is to what? Since ego corresponds to the reality principle, the id corresponds to the pleasure principle.
5. Conclude that the missing term in the analogy is the pleasure principle, which governs the id's behavior.