ego

The term ego comes from Latin and literally means "I." In psychology and philosophy it denotes the sense of self—the organized, conscious part of the mind that makes plans, evaluates reality, and governs behavior. In everyday language, "ego" is often used to refer to one's self-esteem or sense of importance, but scholarly discussions distinguish the ego as a psychological construct and as a facet of selfhood.

In Freudian psychoanalysis, the ego mediates between the instinctual demands of the id and the moral constraints of the superego. It operates according to the reality principle, attempting to satisfy wishes in socially acceptable ways. The ego develops in early childhood through interactions with the environment and uses defense mechanisms to cope with anxiety and conflict.

Outside Freud, "ego" can mean the self or self-concept, though it sometimes connotes self-importance. In ego psychology and related theories, the ego is viewed as a network of adaptive functions—attention, perception, memory, and regulation of behavior—that enable versatile responses to everyday demands.

In philosophy and phenomenology, the term has historical ties to the "I" as a thinking subject and to questions of personal identity. Some critiques argue that popular uses of "ego" are vague or conflated with self-esteem, leading to inconsistencies in discussion across disciplines.

See also: Self-concept; Identity; Self-esteem; Ego defenses; Ego development.