The Freudian theory of the Id-Ego-Superego is a pseudoscientific echo of Plato's tripartite soul: reason-emotion/action-desires. It is an old idea that somehow became sensationalized because Freud managed to use scientific allusions of thermodynamics in describing the Platonic idea. In Freud's time, thermodynamics was the science of the day; Freud simply replaced heat with "sexual energy" that fueled the human soul. Thus, we can perceive the shadows of thermodynamic principles of conservation of energy, equilibrium, and work performed (defense mechanisms).

In the modern era, his theories and psychoanalysis is not practice anymore. What is interesting about the Freudian theory is that in Austria (highly stratified society), the Superego was the primary focus of study. It was only in England and later US that the Ego (emotion/action) became the focus of the interest. These differing focus of "scientific" interests sheds light on the cultural values of different societies.