All else being equal, simpler is usually preferrable to more complicated and convoluted... However, there is also a time when 'larger, more integrative, multi-dialectic models' may have their functional advantage as the larger, integrative model may minimize some of the disadvantages and limitations of the smaller, less integrative models.
Remember: Every theory carries the seeds of its own self-destruction (including mine). But just like 'The Quantum-Dialectic Model' in physics, maybe two or more opposing theories integrated together can carry us further in terms of their combined overall 'evolutionary functionality' than any smaller, more 'unilateral' theory standing by its lonesome on a solitary hill, with a flag on top of this hill, like Napoleon with his white stallion, narcissistically proclaiming to to the world around him: 'This is my territory, only my territory, and thou shalt not trespass -- or meet my cannon!'
The relative simplicity of the '3 compartment' Freudian model of the psyche (id, ego, superego), much like the even simpler '2 compartment' Gestalt model (topdog/underdog) is much of what makes each of these 'clinically used' models attractive.
It should be added that both the Freudian and the Gestalt model are 'bipolar' or 'dialectic' in that they involve 'opposite sides of the personality' either in conflict with each other, or in unity with each other, or somewhere in between. These models have their philosophical foundations in the most ancient Greek philosophies/philosophers -- specifically, Anaximander and Heraclitus who both examined opposite forces in the world as well as in the personality; the same can be said about Lao Tse and ancient Chinese philosophy, particularly Daoism, and more particularly, the bipolar concepts of 'yin' (feminine forces) and 'yang' (masculine forces).
In the Freudian model, the 'id' and 'superego' are usually at odds with each other (instinctual impulses vs. social restraints) with 'the ego' playing the combined roles of 'Primary Stimulus Perceiver, Interpreter, and Evaluator', 'Central Mediator Between Opposing Internal/External Forces', 'Compromise Creator and Negotiator', 'Conflict Resolver', and 'Chief Executive Officer'.
In the Gestalt model, the concept of the 'Central Integrating Ego' is basically assumed as 'the topdog' and 'underdog' parts of our personality try -- and/or don't try -- to work out their 'conflicting/competing differences' with each other.
The same goes for the Jungian model as again a study in 'bipolarities in the personality' is in order: first, between The Conscious and Unconscious Parts of The Personality or Psyche, then between The 'Personal' and 'Collective' Unconscious, then between The competing/conflicting 'Archetypes of: The 'Personna' and 'Shadow', 'The Animus' (in women) and 'The Anima' (in men), with the archetype of 'The Self' being the 'Central, Unconscious Integrating Force in The Personality/Psyche'.
'Dissociations/alienations' can happen between any and/or all of these bipolar parts in the personality that all have a biological, psychological, and evolutionary function, but each or any can become 'inflated' or 'deflated', 'dominant' or 'suppressed/repressed', 'in balance' or 'out of balance', 'unified' or, as stated above, dissociated/alienated/disconnected.
The different 'Object Relations' and 'Transactional Analysis' models that exist out there today all focus on the concept of 'ego-state' which involves dividing the 'ego' as defined by Freud into different bipolar 'ego-states' or 'competing/conflicting 'ego-instincts and/or functions'.
Alfred Adler's model of the personality/psyche is asserted to be 'unified' as opposed to 'conflicted' and/or 'bipolar' but Adler's concepts of 'inferiority feelings' and 'superiority striving' can easily be turned into 'competing ego states' such as the Gestalt concepts of 'topdog' vs. 'underdog' or 'inferiority' vs. 'superiority complexes' or 'under-ego' vs. 'super-ego' or 'superior-ego', which is one of the 'extrapolating features' of my own 16 compartment model.
Finally, the 'Humanistic-Existential' models of the personality that exist out there -- Erich Fromm, Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, for example -- all trumpet the idea of 'self-actualization', which were preceded by what Jung called 'individuation', and before Jung by Nietzsche with his concepts such as 'The Dionysian vs. Apollonian Personalities' (and ideally, a nice balance between the two bipolar parts of the personality), 'The Will To Power', 'The Abyss', 'The Rope', and 'The Superman'.
A bipolarity can be seen in all these 'humanistic-existential' regards between the 'alienated and/or self-alientated' person on the one hand, vs. the more 'self-actualized' or 'self-fulfilled' or 'individuated' person on the other hand. This is deemed to be one of the most important distinctions between the 'healthy' and 'unhealty' personality by anyone claiming to be a 'humanistic-existentialist' out there.
I forgot one model. The 'Cognitive' models, the 'Cognitive-Behavioral' models, and The 'Korzybski-Hayakawa-General Semantic' model all strive to improve or enhance 'rational-empirical perceiving, interpreting, evaluating, and communicating functions' within what will be called in my model 'The Central Ego'.
Bring all of these partly different, partly similar models -- I count about 9 of them: 1. Ancient Bipolar/Dialectic Philosophy Models; 2. Nietzsche; 3. Freud; 4. Jung; 5. Adler; 6. Klein and The Object Relationists; 7. Berne and Transactional Analysis; 8. Eric Fromm and The Humanistic Existentialists; 9. Korzybski, Ellis, Beck, Meichenbaum, and the Cogitive-(Behavioral) Psychologists.
You should find all 9 of these different models of the personality at least partly captured in my 16 compartment model below.
The DGB Model of The Psyche
A/ The Conscious Personality
01. The Nurturing-(Encouraging-Supportive) Superego;
02. The Narcissistic-Hedonistic Superego;
03. The Righteous-Critical-(Rejecting/Exciting) Superego;
04. The (Conscious) Shadow-Id;
05. The Central Ego;
06. The Personna;
07. The Co-Operative-Compliant-Disapproval-(Conflict)-Avoiding Underego;
08. The Rebellious-(Narcissistic-Hedonistic) Underego;
09. The Rebellious-(Righteous-Criticial-Rejecting) Underego;
B/ The Subconscious Personality
10. The Dream Weaver;
11. The (Subconscious) Shadow-Id Vault;
12. The Memory-Learning-Transference Templates and Complexes;
13. The (Subconscious) Shadow-Id;
14. The (Nietzschean Existential) Abyss;
15. The (Nietzschean Existential) Mountain;
16. The Genetic Potential Self (Our 'GPS').
Perhaps this will make my model look at least a little less foreign to my academic readers, and/or professional social workers, psychologists, and/or psychotherapists.
Enough for today...
-- dgb, Feb. 4th, 2012,
-- David Gordon Bain,
-- Dialectic Gap-Bridging Creations and Negotiations...
-- Are Still in Process...
