Can the Ego overcome our evolutionary and physiological predispositions?

Before we transitioned into the Psychoanalysis of Personality, we discussed the Physiology of Personality and Evolutionary Personality Psychology a lot these past few weeks. I know they are all different approaches to Personality Psychology, but I am interested as to how they can intersect and how differing theories, biological mechanisms, and internal structures of the mind can affect one another.

For example, let’s say you’re driving and just got cut off by someone. Let’s also assume that you’re prone to low levels of serotonin, high levels of testosterone, and your innate level of aggression that evolutionary psychology explains is higher than average. Given all of these factors, an automatic negative reaction seems inevitable. In other words, you’re probably going to have a fit of road rage and chase that person down, or even attack them.

Nevertheless, I’m wondering if the Ego would be able to prevent you from chasing down your perpetrator? After all, the Ego takes into consideration the realities of the world. According to the cited article, the Ego is supposed to let us know that “there are other more appropriate means of venting our frustration” in situations like these. So, is the fact that having road rage can lead to very dangerous and life-threatening situations (realized by the Ego) enough to stifle your physiological and evolutionary tendencies?

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