Just what is this ego thing anyway?

Just what is this ego thing anyway?  I have come to realize that I'm not as literate as I thought I was.  I have looked up words to check the spelling only to find out I didn't have the meaning exactly right.

The word ego is one of them. The almighty google claims that according to Webster ego's first meaning is : " the self especially as contrasted with another self or the world."--  What?--  The website also says it is the opinion that you have about yourself.  I get that one!  So its not necessarily the monster that makes your head big.   About.com Psychology says that according to Freud, " the ego is part of personality that mediates the demands of the id, the superego and reality. The ego prevents us from acting on our basic urges (created by the id), but also works to achieve a balance with our moral and idealistic standards."

So, the ego is just a mediator, kind of like a conscience?

"The id is the personality component made up of unconscious psychic energy that works to satisfy basic urges, needs, and desires. The id operates based on the pleasure principle, which demands immediate gratification of needs."

 So is the id the one that gives us the big head?

So what the heck is this superego crap?  OK, superego  (according to About.com Psychology) "is the component of personality composed of our internalized ideals that we have acquired from our parents and from society. The superego works to suppress the urges of the id and tries to make the ego behave morally, rather than realistically."--What?--  My brain is beginning to hurt again!

But I think that the question I have been pondering on the most is the relationship between ego (or is it really id?) and humility. AA squash the ego down and Al-anon, the other side of the AA coin, wants to build the ego up.  Both, (actually all) of the 12 step programs, use the AA steps as their guidelines.  From looking in all the Al-Anon literature I have could I find any reference to ego at all.  Perhaps AA talks about egocentricity which Webster says is "excessive interest in oneself."  

Oh now I get it!  (I think) " Ego" gets a bad rap for his or bigger cousin "egocentricity".  So when AA talks about removing the "bondage of self" they are not saying ego should be stamped out of existence.  Ego is a good and necessary.  Ego is not excessive pride. Ego is just self.  Perhaps egocentricity should be called  idocentricity.

Glad I have that straight.  My brain definitely hurts again.  I nearly called this post "how to drive your self crazy".