Psych 101: What does ‘id' mean?

By now we’ve all seen (and definitely heard) the awesome id Software video intro countless times before playing DOOM (2016), but have you ever thought about the meaning of that two-letter word in the name? Today, I thought I’d do something different and explain what the ‘id’ is. How? By pulling out some old notes I took in my beginner’s level college psychology course!

What exactly is the ‘id’?

Inspiring the namesake of the DOOM series’ developer for its ties to pure instinct, the concept of the ‘id’ was primarily defined by Sigmund Freud’s work in the field of psychoanalysis. The id is believed by Freud to comprise one of three key aspects of the human psyche in conjunction with two other concepts – the ego and super-ego.

Now, the topic of the Freudian school of psychoanalysis in the science community is, uh…complicated, so in the interest of the fact that we’re a video game website (and also I think I got a ‘C’ in that class?), treat this primer more as fun DOOM trivia and notan academic resource on psychiatry. Anyway, where were we…?

Oh yeah!

id, ego and super-ego

The ‘id’ in the Freudian model refers to the part of the human psyche that’s committed to impulse and instinct. Putting it super-simply, the id is driven solely by the basic needs and wants in life and damn the consequences – much like my wanting a third Mountain Dew today regardless of what the doctor’s been saying about my sugar intake.

Meanwhile, the super-ego is often treated as the critical portion of the psyche. Unlike the id, the super-ego is concerned with concepts like morality, ethics, social faux pas and that perhaps consuming ungodly amounts of neon-colored corn syrup in such a short period of time isn’t a good idea in the long run.

Meanwhile, the ego acts as sort of a mediating force between the id and super-ego, finding ways to satisfy the id’s wants and needs while satisfying the super-ego’s desire to not make a total ass of oneself or settle with a low-calorie sparkling water or something.

These three components, to those who prescribe to Freud’s teachings, help define the psyche and actions carried out by the human consciousness. Even if you don’t follow Freud, the ‘id’ in id Software is still a vivid thought – a pure thrill promised in their name, from the unchecked speed of the DOOM Slayer to the bloody indulgence of its rip-and-tear combat.

Now that’s what we called applied science.