Final answer:
According to Freud, human thought and action are controlled by three components: the Id, Ego, and Superego. The Id seeks immediate gratification, the Ego mediates between the Id and reality, and the Superego represents internalized norms acting as a moral compass.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Freud, human thought and action are primarily controlled by three components of the unconscious mind: the Id, the Ego, and the Superego.
The Id is the most primitive part of the mind, containing innate sexual and aggressive drives. It operates on the pleasure principle, which is the instinctive quest for immediate satisfaction of needs and desires.
The Ego develops from the Id and functions based on the reality principle. This aspect of the mind engages in rational thought and problem-solving to balance the needs of the Id with the restrictions of the real world.
The Superego evolves due to social interactions and represents the internalized societal norms. It acts as a moral conscience, guiding behavior through feelings of pride or guilt.
The Ego, situated between the Id and Superego, mediates the demands of both with the constraints of reality, working to keep the needs of the Id and the morality of the Superego in balance.