A theoretical review of the concept of superego from the perspective of psychoanalytic approaches

The aim of this research was to investigate the concept of the superego from the perspective of psychoanalytic approaches, in particular the theory of Freud and Anna Freud and other theories of object relations (Klein and Bion) and the British Independent School (Fairbairn and Winnicott). Given the significant role of the pathological superego in psychological disorders, a better understanding of this concept and the context of the formation of pathological superego formation is very effective in order to understand the underlying mechanism of mental disorders and their treatment. For many psychoanalytic and psychodynamic approaches, the ultimate goal of treatment is to counter the demands of the superego and then strengthen the weakened ego and help it regain control of the subject's mental life. Therefore, separating the ego parts from the superego and challenging the patient to stop self-destruction and prioritize his healthy part, and replacing the compassionate superego with the aggressive superego should be one of the main therapeutic practices.