Compare and Contrast Two Different Approaches to Personality

Theories of Personality
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Theories of Personality
Introduction
Theories play a crucial role in the understanding of personality and the factors influencing it. It helps in explaining the difference in personalities among individuals. Many theories have been put forth to try and explain personality and the factors affecting it. This paper focuses on two of these theories: the id, ego, and superego theory, and the big five theory. The former was developed by Sigmund Freud while the latter was put forth by many researchers including Paul Costa and Robert McCrae. After examining the major facets of each of the theory, the paper examines the differences and similarities existing between the two.
The Id, Ego, and Superego Theory
Freud developed this theory from his earlier conception where he had divided personality into three levels: the unconscious, the preconscious, and the conscious (Schultz & Schultz, 2004). After the revision of his initial levels of personality, he came up with personality structure that is made up of the id, the ego, and the superego. According to the psychologist, the id is the reservoir for the libido and the instincts. It is a powerful personality structure because the other two levels depend on energy from it. Since the id is the instincts reservoir, it is crucially related to the satisfaction of the needs of the body. According to the theory, the operation of id is in line with the pleasure principle which seeks to reduce tension in the body. Therefore, the id strives to satisfy the needs of the body immediately through increasing pleasure and avoiding pain. It focuses on instant gratification, and it does not tolerate the postponement or delay of satisfaction. Another characteristic of the id is that it has no awareness of reality. It is for this reason that it is compared to a newborn baby who cries when its needs are not met but has no idea how satisfaction is brought about.
The second structure is the ego, and it refers to the aspect of personality that is responsible for controlling and directing the instinct according to the principle of reality (Schultz & Schultz, 2004). In this second structure, there is the aspect of rationality. The purpose of the ego is not to stop the impulses of the id but to ensure it gets the tension reduction it needs. Since it is aware of reality, this part of personality decides how and when the id’s impulses can be well satisfied. As such, it determines the acceptable and appropriate places and times that will satisfy the impulses of the id (Schultz & Schultz, 2004). Therefore, it does not prevent the satisfaction of the id impulses, but redirects, postpones, or delays the impulses according to the demands of reality. As such, the ego serves the reality and the id, and tries to make compromises to meet their conflicting demands.
Finally, there is the superego structure of the personality that forms a powerful and majorly unconscious set of beliefs that people acquire during childhood, what people perceive to be wrong or right. According to Freud, the basis for this part of personality initially comprises of the rules of conduct that parents set. Through aspects such as punishment and praises, children ...