In the long run, the ego and id are the same because both want to maximize the pleasure of a person. However, the id engages in secondary process thinking, which is relatively rational, realistic and orientated towards problem solving (Weiten, 2001, p. 489). The ego also establishes a division of oneself from others. According to Freud, unconscious conflicts between the id, ego and superego sometimes lead to anxiety. When this happens the ego uses several defense mechanisms including: denial, repression, intellectualization, displacement, projection, reaction formation, identification, regression, rationalization and sublimation (Miller & Shelly, 2001, p. 34).
According to Freud, there are three levels of awareness, they consist of the conscious, the preconscious and the unconscious. Between the three the id, ego and superego are distributed differently across the three levels of awareness. Freud's most enduring insight could be classified as his recognition of how unconscious forces can influence ones behavior. He inferred the existence of the unconscious from an array of observations that he made with his patients (Weiten, 2001, p. 489). For example, the Freudian slip was created because Freud recognized that sometimes that when one has a "slip of the tongue" moment it is reveled as a person's true feelings. Most important, through psychoanalysis he often helped patients to discover feelings and conflicts of which they had previously been unaware (Weiten, 2001, p. 489). Freud also made the comment that sometimes a person's dreams were actually a gateway for secret desires. Most important, through psychoanalysis he often helped patients discover feelings and conflicts of which they had previously been aware of (Weiten, 2001, p.489).
To put it simple the unconscious mind contains thoughts, memories and desires that are not easily accessible but somehow they manage to greatly influence our behavior.