What does the "Super Ego" represent in Freud's model of the mind?

In Freud's model of the mind, the "Super Ego" represents the internalized moral and ethical standards that an individual acquires through societal and parental influences. This aspect of the psyche acts as a self-critical conscience, guiding behavior by imposing a sense of right and wrong. It aims for perfection and judges actions based on moral considerations, often leading to feelings of guilt when one's actions do not align with these internalized standards.

The Super Ego interacts with the other components of Freud's model—namely the Id, which seeks immediate gratification of desires, and the Ego, which mediates between the desires of the Id and the moral constraints of the Super Ego. Unlike the Id, which is concerned with pleasure, or the Ego, which uses rational thinking to navigate reality, the Super Ego specifically embodies the moralistic dimension of human personality. Therefore, its role is critical in shaping an individual’s ethical framework and decisions in social contexts.