According to Sigmund Freud civilization is condemned to discontent. Freud believes that humans are dangerous and violent creatures that need to be controlled and contained. Society controls and contains humans and diverts us from our natural violent nature. In the documentary by Adam Curtis we were introduced to Edward Bernays, who found a way to contain the violent humans through consumerism. Every primal instinct that humans have is met through prescribing meaning to inanimate objects. Furthermore, society also contains humans with its laws and social norms. Certain taboos restrain humans and their needs. The deep inner desires of humans are repressed within the id. The id contains all our horrible and shameful wants and desires, and if fully released would result in chaos. The ego represses the id and conforms to societies norms. Thus, humankind has a general hatred towards society. Also, this is why we punish those that are different so severely. For example, a gay man is subjected to harsh treatment and ostracized from his peers. The other members in society do this because this man represents their repressed desires. They are afraid of the new emotions that this man brings up within them. They are confused because these thoughts are not allowed, they are meant to be repressed. This is also true in the case of lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people. They cause an arise of forbidden emotions in people. Thus, they are the victims of various punishments from others. People are constantly conscious of their emotions and what is normal and what is not. When they are made aware of something not normal they chop it down at its roots, afraid of what havoc it may cause. This paranoia and constant monitoring of ourselves is done by the ego which is attempting to accommodate the superego. The superego represents the norm, and what society wants us to be. This comes into conflict with the id, which the superego refuses to recognize. The superego and id are in constant conflict with each other. When I go to the food court and want to buy lunch, I am tempted to buy something very unhealthy, like ice cream. However, I don’t buy the ice cream, because if I did I would feel guilty. This guilt would come from my superego that wants to fit into society’s norm. If I bought the ice cream I could possibly gain weight which would not be the ideal that society has set. However, even if I don’t buy the ice cream I am still not happy that I showed self-control. I am still tempted for the ice cream. This is my id that is longing for the ice cream, but remains unhappy when I do not get it. Our ego is what tries to balance this conflict. The ego attempts to pacify both superego and id, and through this process remains unhappy itself. Neither the ego, superego, nor the id ever remain truly happy, which in turn causes us to never truly remain happy. However unfortunate this may be we must to preserve our civilization, and this is the only way for humans to control themselves. Otherwise, the primal instinct will take over and there will be chaos everywhere. In order to have civilization it is vital for humans to remain discontent. Of course, we do not see ourselves as continuously unhappy. We make do with the objects that we buy. If I buy a new jacket it'll make me feel better about myself. This mentality is why we spend the way we do. We no longer buy for need, we buy for want, and we buy to placate the id in its search for happiness. However, this does not allow us to be happy. Have you ever been content with just one nice pair of shoes? I haven't, and I doubt I'll be content with all the shoes in the world. The repression of the id leaves a void that will never be filled, no matter how many shoes I buy. Humans will never be happy as long as we repress our true selves. However, would the chaos created be worth the happiness?
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