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What underlines Freud's theory as a way the ego deals with internal conflict?

  1. Psychosexual stages

  2. Defense mechanisms

  3. Oedipus complex

  4. Identification

The correct answer is: Defense mechanisms

Freud's theory highlights the use of defense mechanisms by the ego as a way to deal with internal conflict. These defense mechanisms include repression, denial, and projection, among others. Option A, psychosexual stages, refers to Freud's theory about the stages of sexual development. Option C, Oedipus complex, describes a child's desire for their opposite-sex parent and envy towards their same-sex parent. Option D, identification, is a defense mechanism in which an individual takes on the characteristics or beliefs of someone else to manage their own internal conflicts. However, none of these options specifically address how the ego deals with internal conflict, making them incorrect choices.