Freud: Instincts and Psychic Energy

Triebs were, in Freud's system, ____.

refer to a drive or a stimulus within the person.

instincts and drives

contained psychic energy
•Life instinct: Libido
•Death instinct: Thanatos

Life Instinct (Eros)

Freud used the term "Libido" to refer to the psychic energy invested on the Eros; aim of the life instinct is to reduce sexual tension by seeking pleasure, but this pleasure is not limited to genital satisfaction; ensure survival by satisfying our needs

Libido

sexual desire/drive

Death Instinct (Thanatos)

Freud rendered the psychic energy invested on the Thanatos as nameless; unconscious drive towards decay, aggression and self-destruction; goal is DEATH

source of sex and aggression

Originated from the Id, but controlled by Ego

Characteristics of Drive

Impetus, source, aim, and object.

Source

region of the body in a state of excitation or tension; different erogenous zones

Erogenous Zones

3 regions where all pleasure are derive from;
the mouth
the anus
the genitals

Aim

refers to seeking pleasure by removing the excitation or by reducing the tension; for example, chewing their toys is to achieve pleasure by reducing hunger.

Object

the means of achieving pleasure; or the means through which the aim was achieved; for example, hungry aim: reduce hunger, object: devouring food

impetus

strength of the instinct; force which the aim was achieved; driving force, pressure, or sheer amount of energy that compels a person to act on the instinct.

erogenous zones (drive of eros)

believed that the entire body is invested with libido; these said regions (mouth, anus, genitals) have a high affinity for the sexual drive.

Classifications of sex

Narcissism
love
sadism
masochism

Narcissism

primary narcissism and secondary narcissism

Primary Narcissism (Freud)

An infant's investment of libido in its own ego; self-love or autoerotic behavior of the infant

Secondary Narcissism (Freud)

Self-love or autoerotic behavior in an adolescent; adolescents often redirect their libido back to the ego, becoming preoccupied with personal appearance and other self-interests.

Love (Freud)

when people invest their libido on an object or person other than themselves.

Aim-Inhibited Love

Repressed sexual love for family members; to meet the demands of superego

Sadism

the tendency to derive pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.

Masochism

the tendency to derive pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from one's own pain or humiliation.

Aggression/Death Instinct

the aim is to return to death (inorganic state); a state of where balance between pleasure & pain is absolute

Forms of Aggression Drive

Teasing
Gossip
Sarcasm
Humiliation
Humor
enjoyment from the suffering of others
unconscious death wish

One truth about aggression tendency

present to everyone, serves as an explanation to most wars, atrocities, and religious persecution