Amorality and Freud

 

 

There are three major elements In Freud’s psychoanalytic theory that explain the workings of what takes place between man’s ears. A limited overview follows: let’s start with the Id. It’s the biological component of everything that is inherited and present at birth. It’s the instincts or drives.  The id operates according to the principle of reducing tension. Thus, when tension or anxiety is raised or experienced, as the result of external stimulation or internally produced sensations, there’s a discharge or a reduction. The id’s goal is to reduce tension in order to bring back pleasure or comfort. This is Freud’s “pleasure principle.” The pleasure principle’s aim is simply to obtain pleasure and avoid pain.

 Freud’s second operational component is called the Ego. It’s psychological. It deals with the world of reality. This system obeys the “reality principle” and performs its role through cognitive- the intellectual functions of perception, sensation, intuition, thinking, and memory. This system is called the executive function of personality because it influences decisions, actions, or behavior. This component of personality selects features in the environment in which it will respond, and decides the manner in which the instincts or drives will be satisfied. A secondary objective of this system is to maintain the life of the individual and to see that reproduction occurs, which is necessary for the survival of the species.  For example, with the instinct of hunger, a person experiences tension. The individual forms an image or wish fulfillment {it’s the id or things in the mind}, then thinks were he may find food and then proceeds to look in that place. This ego functioning is called reality testing in its dealing with the external world.  When food is not found, this results in frustration and could lead to aggression.  This reminds me of the story of Les Miserables.  Jean Valjean stole a loaf of bread to feed his family. He served his time and then committed another violation. In the story, he became prosperous but was hunted down for decades by a ruthless policeman named Javert.  Valjean was on the run but worried about Javert’s pursuit. At the end, Valjean, to relieve the guilt in his conscience, gave himself up to Javert.

This leads to Freud’s third system or component of the personality. The Superego is the last to develop and becomes the conscience. For a more detailed account, consult Freud’s “Civilization and its Discontents, “published by W. W. Norton and Company Incorporated. This essay focuses on Trump’s conscience per Freud.

The superego is the incorporation of the traditional values and ideals present in society. The child incorporates these moral or amoral values and ideals initially from his parents (Fred Trump) by commands, reinforcements, and actions as well as from other significant models, peers etc. during his lifetime. The superego becomes the moral censorship for determining what is good, bad, right, wrong, evil etc. The superego has no confusion nor ambivalence. It knows what is permitted and what is not permitted. The functioning superego operates on receiving love and/or approval from the authority figure. Punishment, is fear of losing love and/or disapproval from that authority figure. As a result, morality or amorality is determined by the rewards and punishments handed out by the parents.  Initially, the child’s morality or amorality is similar to the parents. Later on, with development and various experiences with peer group, TV, radio, social media, movies, novels and videogame experiences etc., the child evolves and develops his own standards of morality or amorality based on a firm or fragile superego. 

However, with amoral parents, inconsistent reinforcement applications the individual’s foundation for a healthy superego and conscience development is compromised. Having a weak and compromised foundation at the start of development, severely hampers the internal superego mechanism regulating and assessing right versus wrong. Being structurally weak, that conscience becomes more easily influenced and susceptible with a tendency  toward amoral identification models; acting out peer group; hate and racist TV, radio, social media rhetoric; violent movies, novels; and various conspiracy beliefs. Political and religious discrepancies and prejudices also influence amoral thinking and behavior. Impulses and thinking, with limited or without internal superego controls render and contribute to weak character. It’s apparent that character motivations of greed, power, control and other masks of insecurity can dominate a weak or limited superego. When this happens, there is a loss of control and diminished guilt. It’s as if moral behavior is run over, demolished and non-effective. With the loss of guilt for regulation, we have nothing or no mechanism to stop amoral tendency behavior.

Throughout life, individuals have numerous conflicts and interactions. Will the individual find love from the authority figure or will his drive for pleasure be thwarted? The instinctual drives or desires are typically bad and amoral. However, if the individual can inhibit his id based drives, the result is frustration and a propensity for aggression which is directed inward toward self or outward toward another. A sense of guilt now exists by either thinking or acting on a “drive”. In other words, impulses of evil, perception of evil, and guilt exist in the unconscious part of the workings in the mind.

Guilt can be conscious or unconscious, and is essentially found in one’s conscience. This superego /conscience censorship is necessary for the survival of our civilization. It is a morally social component, in the mind, because it can inhibit impulses of those of a sexual or aggressive nature.  These impulses are usually punished by society. Just remember the 10 Commandments and “Thou shall not kill and Thou shall not commit adultery.” One’s superego -conscience, when working properly, persuades the ego to substitute moralistic goals for nonrealistic ones. In essence, the superego attempts to block gratification from the drives of the id.

With neuroses, guilt is unconscious and results in a need for punishment. These individuals are not aware of their need for punishment. A sense of guilt is experienced as uneasiness, tension or anxiety. With dissatisfaction, tension or anxiety, these neurotic individuals often seek other motivations like pursuing power, control, prestige or possessions in attempting to diminish discomfort while searching for pleasure. Punishment can occur at different times and in many different forms.

 Certain individuals have weak controls or non-functioning amoral conscience and get away with murder. Hitler, Saddam, Qaddafi and Bin Laden come to mind. Yet, in the end, they all received their long-overdue punishment.

Employing Freud’s model of conscience, let’s take a look at the narcissistic, amoral and angry Donald.   Donald’s punishments have usually been embarrassment, shame and a dollar payment for inflicted damages on others. Way back when, both Donald and his father were found guilty by the US government for their housing discrimination policy against blacks. Donald has gone bankrupt six times and has run his casinos into the ground. He no longer can borrow money from US banks.  He has been involved in many lawsuits and settled with dollar amounts. Donald wanted to be an NFL owner but was boycotted by the league. He bought a USFL team in response. Donald and the USFL engaged in a lawsuit against the NFL for antitrust statutes. They won the lawsuit and were awarded three dollars, by the court for damages. He won the battle but lost the war.  Donald’s university and foundation were both phony and penalized. Currently, his tax returns are being audited. The District of New York is also investigating him for fraud. Furthermore, his obesity, based on poor food choice, is another example of aggression turned inward or self-punishment. His lack of nutritious health puts him at risk.

 Donald’s amoral behavior has been exhibited within the last four years. He appears to be out of control and without moral limits. He’s been protected and enabled by William Barr “sitting Pres. can’t be indicted;” and the Republican Senate which did not convict him on his impeachment. Numerous members of his staff have resigned and written books about his incompetency.

For the past few months, he has been promoting lies of voter fraud regarding the November 3rd election. He and his sycophants have gone seditiously and without evidence to court over 50 times in an attempt to overturn the election by disenfranchising black voters.  Republican Atty. Gen.’s in 18 states with the support  of over 100 Republicans in Congress have submitted false claims, this time to the Supreme Court. It’s apparent, in this case, that political motivation along with insecurity supersedes and dominates a clinging to the power of political office. With that being said, appropriate democratic values and moral behavior take a backseat. It’s as if one’s conscience is impaired or stuck at a level characterized in adolescence. The amoral character of Donald and these Republican representatives is discouraging. Keeping their elected positions is based on anxiety of being powerless and therefore dominates their behavior.

Donald lies, cheats, and attempts to subvert the mass voting in our Republic in order for him to keep his unchecked power. He owes millions of dollars to unnamed sources. With that being said, his character is important. Will his unconscious need for punishment result in him being defeated? Will a jury find him guilty after leaving office?  Time will tell. The cliché “what goes around comes around” comes to mind. His fate will come, it’s only a matter of time.