What, according to Freud, is the function of the ego defense mechanisms? Why is repression considered the most basic ego defense mechanism? Explain what Freud meant when he said that civilization is built on sublimation.
Anxiety can be defined as a warning of sudden danger that is considered as uncomfortable situations and the individual experienced by the elimination of thirst, hunger and pain. It can be reduced by the property of ego that deals with the physical environmental conditions. According to Freud, ego also deals with the moral and neurotic kind of anxiety levels that is collectively known as the ego defense mechanisms.
Freud identified that all ego defense mechanisms consists of two things such as they changes reality situations and they modulate at the unconscious level by creating unawareness in the person. Repression is considered as the most basic part of the ego defense mechanism because it is involved in all others types of actions phenomena. Modified repressed ideas enter through consciousness level that causes the anxiety to develop humors, dreams, physical symptoms, free association and parapraxes.
Freud considered sublimation to be essential criteria of the civilization process because civilization demands humans to inhibit their direct satisfaction of their basic needs that protect themselves from sexual urges. Sublimation has the phenomena of developing conspicuous nature of cultural development that ultimately leads to higher social, artistic and scientific activities that ultimately play a pivotal role in the civilized life.