Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

In Freudian psychology, what does the id represent?

1. Conscious thoughts

2. Unconscious desires and instincts

3. Social responsibilities

4. Moral judgments

The correct answer is: Unconscious desires and instincts

In Freudian psychology, the id is a fundamental component of the human psyche that embodies our most basic, instinctual drives and desires. It operates entirely in the unconscious mind and is driven by the pleasure principle, which seeks immediate gratification of needs and urges without regard for reality or morality. This means the id is directly linked to our primal urges, such as hunger, thirst, and sexual desire. Through this understanding, it becomes clear that options like conscious thoughts, social responsibilities, and moral judgments pertain to other aspects of the psyche. Conscious thoughts correlate more closely with the ego and the superego, which manage rational decision-making and moral considerations, respectively. The id, however, does not engage with these dimensions; it is primarily concerned with fulfilling its inherent instincts and desires. Therefore, the representation of the id is best captured by the idea of unconscious desires and instincts.