Cliff Huxtable Sigmund Freud\'s Personality

Cliff Huxtable

Sigmund Freud's personality theory hinges on his tripartite division of the psyche into the id, the ego, and the superego. These three components of the individual interact and when dysfunctional, they may form complexes and neuroses. The id, the ego, and the superego have different needs, desires, and drives. Those needs, desires, and drives can easily be in conflict with one another. The id encompasses what Freud referred to as the pleasure principle, or the simple desire to satisfy basic needs like hunger. Instant gratification is the main quest of the id. The id manifests itself as childlike impulses. When Cliff Huxtable of the Cosby Show pigs out on junk food, he is acting on his id impulses. Similarly, Cliff enjoys buying gadgets. He is normally frugal but every once in a while he splurges and therefore demonstrates that his id can still hold sway over his decisions. Cliff Huxtable is also portrayed as a big kid in many episodes, as he has an appreciation for mischief. He is wacky and likes to do things like dance, which also reveals his need for basic human pleasures.

The superego is very much like the opposite of the id. The conscience that keeps the id's desires in check, the superego consists of societal norms, proscribed behaviors, and restrictions on impulses. Guilt is one of the main manifestations of the superego, which can help the individual resist unhealthy desires like eating too much cake. The superego determines right from wrong behaviors. Highly judgmental, the superego is frequently a source of inner turmoil as it fights the id. The superego can also create feelings of pride as well as guilt (Stevenson 1998).

The ego must often mitigate between the id and the superego. As it attempts to balance the needs of the id and superego, the ego might resort to repression and defense mechanisms. Neuroses can result from repression and defense mechanisms. Neuroses are psychological conflicts or problems harbored by the ego. The ego is also governed by what Freud called the "reality principle," (Stevenson 1998). The ego is the main face that a person presents to the world. Not all id desires can or should be acted upon, but the superego must also be kept in check to prevent neuroses. Thus, one of the ego's main objectives to balance id and superego without resorting to defense mechanisms, repression, and other precursors to neurosis. A well-developed ego will demonstrate traits such as a healthy self-discipline.

Cliff Huxtable has a well-developed ego that stems from his being a rational and scientific-minded person. He is playful and mischievous just to the degree that he expresses himself with joy. Yet Cliff never allows his id impulses to get out of hand or interfere with reason. His work as a doctor is an ideal expression of his sensible self. Although he allows himself to indulge in junk food to satisfy his id, Cliff remains healthy. He sometimes has the impulse to purchase a new gadget but does not place the family in debt by doing so. Cliff likes to challenge people to games, sometimes making bets. Yet when he loses, he does not take the situation too seriously. Cliff does not avoid conflict or argument, and yet he also tries to create win-win situations. Cliff is frequently portrayed as the voice of reason in the show, such as when he tries to talk his wife out of having another baby. He points out where his children are acting on their impulses, and proves to be a good disciplinarian. A psychoanalytic personality perspective suggests that Cliff Huxtable is an ideal person with a healthy, well-developed ego.

In the Cosby Show, the Huxtable children are developing their superegos based on what they learn from their parents and Cliff serves as an excellent role model for them. Cliff Huxtable is a well-adjusted man who does not demonstrate any apparent neuroses. Difficult emotions such as anger, fear, and embarrassment are raised in the Cosby Show, through the various characters. Cliff Huxtable shows remarkable wisdom when dealing with his children. For instance, in one episode he tells them that anger is a normal human emotion and that he loves his children even when they are feeling angry. Cliff also understands that the superego cannot always be happy, as when one of his daughters bombs during her music recital. Showing unconditional love, Cliff instills the kind of values in his children that will help them develop with minimal neuroses too.

Although loosely based on Bill Cosby himself Cliff Huxtable is an idealized human being. The television character is fun-loving but not driven by his id impulses. Cliff Huxtable has a strong sense of personal pride, which is why he has a desire to win at chess. Yet his superego does not create conflicts in his personality. All three parts of Cliff Huxtable's personality are well-integrated, which is why he is a healthy and balanced person as well as a good father and role model.