Conscience

Conscience Definition

Conscience is an individual’s internal sense of right and wrong that acts as a constraint on behaviour and generates feelings of guilt when its demands are not fulfilled. These moral boundaries are acquired through socialisation, meaning they differ based on the individual and their cultural context. The primary influence in this process stems from parents, who establish behavioural standards through both example and the implementation of reward and punishment systems. Consequently, societal and parental expectations become internalised, forming the basis of one’s conscience.

Psychological Development

Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory specifically addresses the formation of the conscience, conceptualising it as the superego. According to this view, the superego develops through identification with a same-sex parent, essentially representing the child’s idealisation of their parent’s moral values.

Philosophical Debates

The emphasis on external and societal influence in moral development is contested by perspectives that argue for an innate moral sense. This alternative view suggests that morality is inherent rather than learned, a concept often found within religious or mystical frameworks.