NBPTS Exceptional Needs Specialist Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

The super-ego, as conceptualized by Freud, represents the internalized ideals and moral standards of an individual, largely shaped by societal norms and values. It acts as a moral compass, guiding behavior and decision-making according to what is deemed acceptable or unacceptable in a particular culture. This aspect of the psyche develops during childhood as a child assimilates the lessons and prohibitions from parents, educators, and society at large.

When considering the other components mentioned in the question, it’s clear that they do not align with the character of the super-ego. Biological drives for survival pertain to the id, which is responsible for innate drives and impulses. The desire for social acceptance can be linked to various psychological factors but does not specifically define the super-ego’s regulatory function. Goals for personal success relate more to the ego's mediating role between the desires of the id and the moral constraints imposed by the super-ego, rather than the ethical dimensions that the super-ego embodies. Thus, the correct answer aptly captures the essence of the super-ego in Freud's theory.