This paper will apply Freud's view of the problem of overeating due to anxiety. Included in the presentation will be a discussion of Freud's concepts related to: the unconscious; the id, ego, and superego functioning; developmental stages; and personality development. Applications of these concepts to the current behavior of obsessional overeating to deal with anxiety and feelings of inadequacy is also presented.
Freud presented the psychoanalytic view of human nature and the personality, noting that the human being has an energy system that is made up of unconscious instincts, biological drives, conscious and unconscious parts (Id, Ego, Super Ego), anxieties, and defense systems. Freud proclaimed that the libido went through four developmental stages: oral, anal, phallic, and genital. For Freud, childhood experiences and biological instincts determine the personality development and organization (Freud, 1966, p. 397; Gay, 1989, p. 7).
According to Freud, the ego represents all that we call reason and common sense, is based on reality, and controls consciousness. The ego acts as a protective shield against environmental stimuli, with the task of self-preservation. The id, a part of the unconscious, includes passions and impulses related to unrestricted pleasure. The ego acts as a gatekeeper for the id and unconscious material or unwelcome unconscious processes (Freud, 1966, p. 446; Gay, 1989, p. 11). When a person experiences a flooding of anxiety or depression, the ego functioning and state of integration are poor. The superego serves as the conscience, holding the moral code and deciding whether an action is good or bad. The superego internalizes the standards of the parents and rewards or punishes behavior.
For the current case of obsessional, repetitive, and compulsive overeating, the ego is integrated enough that functioning is maintained while anxiety is avoided with the overeating behaviors. However, ...