In psychoanalytic theory, what is the primary function of the superego?

• A. To enforce moral standards and ideals, guiding behavior according to societal rules
• B. To satisfy basic instinctual drives and seek immediate pleasure
• C. To mediate between the demands of the id and the realities of the external world
• D. To process sensory information and coordinate voluntary movement

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the three main components of Freud's psychoanalytic theory: the id, the ego, and the superego.
2. Understand the role of the id as the part that seeks immediate pleasure and satisfies basic instinctual drives.
3. Recognize the ego as the mediator that balances the demands of the id with the realities of the external world.
4. Focus on the superego's function, which is to enforce moral standards and ideals, guiding behavior according to societal rules and internalized values.
5. Eliminate options related to sensory processing and voluntary movement, as these are functions of other brain systems, not the superego.