[The superego or conscience. On the difference between the 2 concepts and its significance for psychotherapy of children and adolescents]

Abstract

Proceeding from the matter-of-fact equation of conscience to superego in recent psychoanalytical papers the author first describes the phenomenon of conscience which is subdivided in manifestations attributed to the good and the bad conscience. By means of the Freudian conception developing from egoideal via idealego to superego Freud's reception of conscience is examined. In this connection the author demonstrates an obvious onesidedness in Freud's use of the term of conscience which leans towards the accusing, punishing, bad conscience. Among Freud's successors, on the part of the psychology of the proprium, heed is paid to those aspects of conscience neglected by Freud, the implicit total aspect of the phenomenon of conscience, however, was lost. Finally the author discusses the double aspect of conscience, the good and the bad conscience, with respect to its impact on the psychotherapy of children and adolescents.