Ego Psychology

Ego psychology is actually a school of psychoanalysis which originated in Sigmund Freud's ego-id-superego model. Following Freud, several prominent psychoanalytic theorists started to elaborate on Freud's functionalist model of the ego. They put much work into theorizing the ego's different functions and the way they can be impaired within psychopathology.

Most of their work concentrated around strengthening the ego therefore it could better deal with the pressures through the society in general and id, super-ego. The main functions of the ego had been traditionally viewed as impulse-control, reality-testing, affect tolerance, judgment, defence and synthetic functioning. A significant conceptual revision to Freud's structural theory was developed when Heinz Hartmann argued how the healthy ego contains a sphere of autonomous ego functions that are usually independent of mental conflict.


Memory, reality-testing and motor coordination, for instance, needs to be able to operate without the intrusion of mental conflict. Based on Hartmann, psychoanalytic treatment is designed to expand the conflict-free sphere of ego functioning.

Ego Psychology Theory

Ego psychology concerns alone with the structuring, development and functioning of the ego. Ego is actually a theoretical construct described in phrases of its function that is to insure the survival of the person by integrating, organizing and adapting (adaptability) external/internal perceptions and needs to the environment. A person's capacity for self-organization is determined to a good extent by a person's interaction with their familial environment. Therefore, there is a correlation, otherwise direct correspondence, among the theories of family therapy and theories of ego psychology; both in a developmental perspective is implied and the rules of coevolution could be applied.

The principal theorist in charge of launching psychoanalysis like a technique and psychodynamic theory generally is Sigmund Freud. Freud’s theories suggested that early developmental influences and unconscious motivations were important to knowing behavior. Freud’s original theories have verified quite controversial and have resulted in the development of various alternative or derivative theories.