Unconscious Internal Conflict

Definition

Unconscious internal conflict refers to the hidden struggle between different parts of our mind that influences our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It suggests that unresolved conflicts between our conscious and unconscious mind can shape our personality traits.

Related terms

Defense Mechanisms:

These are psychological strategies used by the ego to protect itself from anxiety caused by conflicting demands of the id and superego.

Psychoanalysis:

A therapeutic approach developed by Sigmund Freud that aims to uncover unconscious conflicts through free association, dream analysis, and interpretation of symbols.

Id, Ego, Superego: These are three components of Freud's structural model of personality. The id is driven by instinctual desires, the ego mediates between the id and superego based on reality principles, and the superego represents internalized societal norms and values.