Which component embodies the moral standards and how we ought to be?

• A. Ego
• B. Superego
• C. Id
• D. Conscious

Answer: (B)

In Freud's theory, the part that internalizes moral standards and tells us how we ought to be is the superego. It develops as we absorb parental and societal rules, forming our conscience and an ideal self. The superego judges our thoughts and actions, generating pride when we meet its standards and guilt when we fall short. It acts as a moral brake on the urges of the id, pushing us toward morally acceptable behavior. The ego, by contrast, mediates between the id’s desires and the constraints of reality, while the id is driven by basic, pleasure-seeking impulses. The conscious is simply what we are aware of at any moment. So the moral compass and rules about how we should behave come from the superego.