Which of the following is a function of the ego?

• A. Reality testing
• B. Dream interpretation
• C. Transference
• D. Modeling

Answer: (A)

Reality testing is the ego’s function that keeps us anchored in the external world. It helps differentiate real events from internal fantasies, guiding actions to fit actual circumstances rather than just wishes or impulses. This capacity to evaluate reality, delay gratification when needed, and plan based on what’s really happening is central to how the ego mediates between the id’s urges and the superego’s moral constraints.

Dream interpretation is a technique used to explore unconscious content, not a basic ego function. Transference refers to the client’s feelings about others being projected onto the therapist, a therapeutic dynamic rather than an ego operation. Modeling involves learning by observing others, a social learning process rather than an intrinsic ego function.