The role of society in psyche development

According to Freud, neurosis occurs when the libidinal impulses of the individual clash with the moral values of the society that the individual has internalized. Some individuals deviate from the norm of sexuality organized under genitalia with the aim of reproduction and the body of the opposite sex as the object, either because of inherent reasons or because of an obstacle in the fulfillment of the libido. These external frustrations form fixation points that the libido may regress to, so that the aim and object of libido deviates from the social norm. Such individuals who regress to earlier phases of sexual development are deemed to be perverts by the society, and have to give up social respect and acceptance to follow their libidinal desires. However such an external frustration is not enough to cause neurosis; it has to be accompanied by an internal frustration. When the individual’s deviant sexual desires are unacceptable by his moral standards, they present a threat to his ego so that the ego represses them into the unconsciousness and does not allow the libido to regress. The individual becomes a neurotic when symptoms form as a substitution for the unfulfilled desires in the unconsciousness. Since the ego is socially constructed and shaped by external reality and social interactions, neurosis is a disease with social causes. Since the id contains the libidinal impulses, neurosis can be seen as a conflict between the id, the ego and the external reality. In conservative societies that suppress peoples’ sexualities greatly, neurosis can be observed in a greater frequency. Freud uses the example of the caretaker’s and landlord’s daughters to illustrate this point; the landlord’s daughter, who has higher moral standards, is more likely to become a neurotic.
Freud proposes that psychoanalysis can cure neurosis by bringing the conscious into the unconsciousness and strengthening the ego of the patient by influencing his moral ideals, so that he can contemplate his desires in a sensible manner to resolve the moral conflict between the ego and the id. However, such a moral transformation in the patient would not be effective without a social transformation. Psychoanalysis can only alleviate symptoms or delay them, since the patient learns about his repressed desires and is introduced to an alternate more flexible morality by the psychoanalyst. If the society is still as conservative, then the patient will still face a decision between satisfaction of his deviant libidinal impulses and social acceptance. In time, the ego that has gained strength and flexibility through psychoanalysis, will become rigid again through social influence so that the patient will still hold onto his high moral ideals. Since the development of ego is a social process, it is very hard for the patient to reject the moral values of his society to follow his deviant sexual desires and employ a liberated morality. Therefore, a complete cure to neurosis would not be possible without a transformation of the moral ideals of the society so that it is more accepting of different forms of libidinal desires and sexuality. In such a society, individuals would have more freedom and would not be stifled to conform to sexual norms and therefore would not be torn between the ego and the id.
Even though a social transformation towards sexual freedom is necessary as a cure to neurosis, I agree with Freud that in order for society to exist, there has to be libidinal sacrifice diverted towards nonlibidinal aims, such as work. Therefore, it is important to differentiate between necessary and surplus renunciation; the latter should be minimized to eliminate neurosis from the society. Freud does not see the society as an enemy to individuals denying them happiness by repressing their libidinal impulses, and he does not suggest that people should be totally free of moral, ethic and aesthetic ideals to live up to. Without such a sacrifice and morality; society, culture and civilization would not exist since it is what makes as human.
The development of the psyche is a social process; the ego, an important regulatory mental apparatus, is socially constructed and sexual desires in the id are shaped by the society. Therefore neurosis, which involves a conflict between the ego, the id and external reality stems from social causes. Freud claims that psychoanalysis would be a cure to neurosis by influencing the ego and moral values of the patient. However, since neurosis is social, such a cure can only be effective through a transformation of the moral, aesthetic and ethic values of the society.

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