What term refers to the part of personality made up of unconscious psychic energy that seeks to satisfy basic urges and desires?

The term that refers to the part of personality made up of unconscious psychic energy that seeks to satisfy basic urges and desires is known as the ID. The ID is a foundational concept in Freudian psychoanalysis and represents the innermost workings of the unconscious mind. It operates on the pleasure principle, driving individuals to seek immediate gratification of their basic instincts, such as hunger, thirst, and sexual impulses, without consideration for reality or social appropriateness.

The ID is distinguished by its lack of awareness or restraint, functioning purely to fulfill desires and needs. This unconscious nature of the ID contrasts with other components of personality, such as the ego and super-ego, which bring in elements of reality, morality, and social norms. The ego mediates between the desires of the ID and the constraints of the external world, while the super-ego is the moral compass that incorporates societal rules and ethics. Understanding the ID is crucial in studying the dynamics of personality and the various forces that shape human behavior.