Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis (the clinical method of psychopathology treatment through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst). He proposed that the human psyche could be sectioned into three parts: the id, ego and superego. He compared the relationship to that of a charioteer and his horses - 'the horses (the id and superego) provide the energy and drive, while the charioteer (the ego) provides direction'.
The Ego
'that part of the id which has been modified by the direct influence of the external world' - (Freud, 1923, p.25)
The Ego mediates the unrealistic id and external real world; 'it is the decision-making component of personality'. The Ego still seeks pleasure (like tension reduction) and avoids pain where possible. The ego's priority is devising realistic strategy to obtain this pleasure, however it has no concept of what is right or wrong. It's main goal is to achieve its satisfaction without causing harm to itself nor the Id; however it is usually inferior to the Id and usually has to try to point the id in the correct direction with help from the supergo.
If the Ego fails to use the 'reality principle' the person can feel anxious and use 'unconscious defence mechanisms' to ward off unpleasant feelings. The uses rational, realistic and orientated thinking processes to solve problems; so if the plan doesn't work, the ego thinks through repetitively till a solution is found.
The Id
'The id engages in primary process thinking, which is primitive, illogical, irrational, and fantasy oriented.'
'The id is the primitive and instinctive component of personality'. It has inherited instincts (like sexual gratification and impulsion) and the aggressive instinct (death and destruction). It is completely impulsive and responds immediately due to their instincts.
The id operates on the 'pleasure principle'; this is the idea that every impulse or desire should be satisfied immediately. This can make it dangerous because it doesn't care about consequences. It isn't affected by reality, logic or even basic morals (unlike the superego).
The Superego
The superego is based around morals and values, usually influenced by the subject's upbringing or society surrounding them. It's main job is to control the id's impulses, or more so the 'dangerous' impulses; but like the id, it also tries to persuade the ego to their side of view. The Superego strives for perfection, and seeks moralistic goals rather than just realistic ones.
The supergo could be considered to be the human conscience. It can 'punish the ego through feelings of guilt'. Similarly it can also be seen as one's 'ideal self', and so can create more pressure due to the sometimes overwhelming pressure for success and perfection; It can represent career aspirations, a 'perfect person of society' and an almost imaginary picture of how oneself should be.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Freud#Id,_ego,_and_super-ego
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoanalytic_film_theory
https://www.simplypsychology.org/psyche.html
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/jun/17/features.review
http://www.arasite.org/nfreud2.htm
http://freudquotes.blogspot.com/2015/12/psychoanalytic-film-theory-and-rules-of.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJRZQGFYpZY
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