Sigmund Freud, who introduced us to the Oedipus complex, hysteria, free association, and dream interpretation, is considered the “Father of Psychiatry.” He was concerned with both the dynamics and structure of the psyche. He divided the personality into three parts:
- Id – The id developed out of Freud’s concept of the pleasure principle. The id comprises primitive, instinctual drives (hunger, sex, aggression). The id says, “I want.”
- Ego – It is the ego, or rational mind, that is called upon to control the instinctual impulses of the self-indulgent id. The ego says, “I think/I evaluate.”
- Superego – The superego is the conscience of the psyche and monitors the ego. The superego says “I should/I ought” (Hunt, 2007).
Topographic Model of the Mind 
Freud’s topographic model deals with levels of awareness and is divided into three categories:
- Unconscious mind – All mental content and memories outside of conscious awareness; becomes conscious through the preconscious mind.
- Preconscious mind – Not within the conscious mind but can more easily be brought to conscious awareness (repressive function of instinctual desires or undesirable memories). Reaches consciousness through word linkage.
- Conscious mind – All content and memories immediately available and within conscious awareness. Of lesser importance to psychoanalysts.