As a child, dan loved to prance around the neighborhood wearing silly outfits. as he got older, he realized that he couldn't continue that kind of behavior unless he found some way for it to be viewed as more socially acceptable. upon realizing this, dan decides to pursue a career as a circus clown. according to freud, dan's which operates on the principle, is responsible for finding a socially acceptable outlet for his desire to run around wearing silly outfits.