ASWB LCSW Social Work Clinical Practice Exam

In Psychoanalytic theory, feelings of guilt typically arise from which component of personality?

1. Ego

2. Id

3. Superego

4. Conscious

The correct answer is: Superego

In Psychoanalytic theory, feelings of guilt primarily arise from the superego. The superego acts as the ethical component of personality, representing internalized societal standards and moral values. It develops as a child assimilates the influences of parents, caregivers, and cultural norms. This part of the personality functions to regulate behavior by providing guidelines for making judgments and internalizing moral standards, leading to feelings of guilt when an individual breaches these internalized rules or feels they have not lived up to these expectations. Understanding the other components, such as the id and ego, clarifies why they do not typically generate feelings of guilt. The id operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of basic urges and desires without consideration of moral implications. The ego, while it mediates between the id and the demands of reality, focuses on balancing these influences rather than enforcing moral standards. Therefore, the superego is the clear source of guilt in this theoretical framework, as it embodies our conscience and moral compass.